Peasant Feast before an Inn with a Banner of St. Sebastian 1562

Curator: Here we have "Peasant Feast before an Inn with a Banner of St. Sebastian" by Joannes van Doetecum, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. The dimensions of the plate are roughly 22 by 32 centimeters. Editor: What strikes me is the sheer density of activity rendered through these intricate lines. You can almost feel the rough texture of the paper and smell the revelry. Curator: Indeed, look at the banner of St. Sebastian—a figure often invoked against plague. The feast might carry deeper, communal significance, perhaps a hope for warding off disease and reaffirming the community. Editor: And the sheer labor invested in the etching process. The artist, with his tools and the press, transforming metal and ink into this compelling depiction of social life and collective resilience. Curator: There’s an enduring quality, isn’t there? How symbols and rituals persist, binding communities together through shared experiences. Editor: Absolutely, and the materiality reminds us that art is always an expression of its time, shaped by the resources and skills available. Curator: It leaves you contemplating the many layers embedded within this one scene. Editor: A fascinating interplay of the tangible and the symbolic, that's for sure.