Illustration XXII c. 1550

Curator: Looking at "Illustration XXII," an anonymous piece housed at the Harvard Art Museums, I am immediately struck by the weight of history this image seems to carry. Editor: He looks so weary, doesn't he? Like he's seen ages come and go. The etching is so stark, the lines like wrinkles mapping a long life. Curator: The figure's staff, with its orb-like top, suggests authority, maybe even wisdom, and the bell on the chair hints at a call to attention, or perhaps a warning. It's a potent mix of symbols. Editor: Yes, a call to wisdom, but also, perhaps, a mournful toll. The cloak is so heavy, almost crushing him. I wonder what he's guarding or grieving. Curator: Indeed. It’s fascinating how an image, even one so simple, can echo with such layered meanings. Editor: I'll carry this somber sage with me.