Aanbidding door de koningen

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, verso, gestempeld: Lugt 240

Art Historical Context

Niccolò Vicentino’s *Aanbidding door de koningen* (Adoration of the Kings), created in 1605, captures the timeless biblical scene of the Magi presenting gifts to the Christ Child. As a chiaroscuro woodcut measuring just 167 by 238 millimetres, the print demonstrates how artists of the period used multiple carved blocks and layered inks to suggest volume, light, and shadow. The technique allowed Vicentino to evoke the dramatic contrasts usually associated with paintings while producing an affordable work on paper. Chiaroscuro woodcuts enjoyed particular popularity in Italy during the late Rena...