Wing of an Altarpiece with Adoration of the Magi, on the reverse is Presentation in the Temple 1560 - 1565

Pieter Aertsen created this painted altarpiece wing which depicts the Adoration of the Magi. The composition's vertical orientation divides the pictorial space with a series of figures. The eye is immediately drawn to the contrast of the richly ornamented figure in the foreground and the bustle of secondary figures around him. A certain realism is achieved with the treatment of light and shadow that articulates the folds and textures of fabrics. Aertsen manipulates the viewer's gaze by constructing a pictorial space with strong diagonals and overlapping figures. The composition’s density destabilizes a traditional reading of the subject, which becomes secondary to the artist’s study of the human figure and surface texture. The artist seems interested in presenting a contemporary vision that embraces complexity over idealized form. It allows a glimpse into the changing artistic and cultural values of the time, challenging viewers to look beyond the surface.