Termi c. 17th century

Curator: Here we have "Termi," a fascinating print from an anonymous artist, housed right here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Oh, it’s lovely! It feels like a dreamscape, all sharp lines and stark contrasts. It's so compact, but evokes such a vast, mountainous world. Curator: Indeed. Note how the clustered buildings suggest a kind of symbolic city. And the lone tree sprouting above a structure, almost an emblem. It recalls ancient fertility symbols, life springing from the man-made. Editor: It's got a touch of the surreal, doesn't it? That slightly skewed perspective makes me wonder what’s real and what's imagined here. Curator: Perhaps that blurring of lines is the point. It could be a comment on how we project our myths and beliefs onto the landscape itself. Editor: Yes, I feel grounded yet completely free associating just by looking at this. Curator: It's a testament to the power of simple forms. Editor: A very captivating mystery!