The Annunciation (The Dombild Altarpiece, close) 1445

Editor: So, this is Stefan Lochner's *The Annunciation,* a panel from the Dombild Altarpiece created around 1445. It's...striking. Mary and Gabriel each occupy a panel, rendered in incredible detail. I find it peaceful, yet there’s this quiet drama in the contrast between the richly patterned gold backgrounds and the subdued palette of their robes. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Oh, it sings, doesn't it? For me, it's a beautiful marriage of the divine and the domestic. See how Lochner situates this momentous event, this incredible act of communication, within a very human space? The golden backdrop might evoke heaven, but look at the humble lectern Mary stands by, the lilies…the textures, and their expressions…they root the ethereal in something tangible, something we can almost reach out and touch. Does that resonance speak to you? Editor: Absolutely! It’s almost like he's trying to make the divine more accessible, less remote. The angel doesn’t feel distant. He seems…kind. Curator: Precisely! The figures possess a certain gentleness. And consider the composition—the wings, the fall of the robes…It's not just about religious iconography. It’s a symphony of line and color, almost…a love song, told through paint and form. Editor: That's lovely. I never thought of it that way. A love song, yes I can feel it. The two golden grounds seem to draw the figures together, don’t they? Curator: A drawing together and a separation in time, as though what passes between them exists at different depths of heaven. It shows the passing moment. So many mysteries within it! What do we feel about mysteries, do we hide from them, or seek to understand? Editor: I like that. There's a story beneath the surface and to try to dig in could spoil the mystery. Now that I see it as a love song I can appreciate how gentle it is, yet with its subtle drama of gold and texture it draws the viewer into the moment of change.