Piece II c. 18th century

Editor: So, this is "Piece II," by an anonymous artist, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. I’m immediately drawn to its symmetrical design; it feels both ancient and somehow futuristic. What catches your eye when you look at it? Curator: It's funny you say futuristic, because I see an echo of old-world craftsmanship, of course. The central motif, a sun-like face, reminds me of alchemical symbols. What secrets do you think this piece is trying to keep, or perhaps reveal? Editor: Secrets, huh? Maybe it's a coded message hidden in plain sight. Or just a pretty pattern. I guess that's the beauty of anonymous art, right? We can project anything onto it. Curator: Precisely! It invites us to participate, to complete the story. It's a mirror reflecting our own curiosities back at us.