Illustration XI: God appears to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19 and 25). c. 16th century

Editor: This is an anonymous woodcut print titled "Illustration XI: God appears to Moses on Mount Sinai," now at the Harvard Art Museums. It's quite small and detailed, and the stark contrast makes it feel so immediate. What visual elements stand out to you? Curator: Observe the dynamism achieved through line work. The artist utilizes parallel hatching to create volume and texture. Note how the density and direction of these lines modulate to define form and space. Editor: So it's more about the technique than the religious narrative? Curator: Precisely. The subject is secondary to the formal exercise. The artist is less concerned with conveying a literal depiction of the divine and more invested in exploring the graphic potential of the medium. Editor: I see it now. The composition itself is the message, in a way. Curator: Precisely. It highlights the power of form over content.