The Adoration of the Magi c. 1485

This woodcut with hand coloring, entitled 'The Adoration of the Magi', presents a familiar Biblical scene. Though the artist is unknown, the print was likely made in Germany sometime in the late fifteenth century. The image creates meaning through familiar visual codes. The halo that encircles Mary's head denotes her holiness, while the gifts the Magi bring signify the status of the infant Jesus. Consider that this print was likely made in response to the rise of printing. Before the printing press, images like this would have been commissioned and reserved only for the wealthy elite. The woodcut, however, made religious imagery accessible to a far broader audience, offering spiritual sustenance and reinforcing shared cultural values. To gain a deeper understanding of this artwork, scholars might consult archives of early printed materials, religious texts, and social histories of the period. In doing so, we see the meaning of this artwork as something contingent on technological advancement and the changing nature of social institutions.