Illustration VI c. 1550

Curator: This is Illustration VI, an anonymous work held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels archaic and intimate. The stark lines convey a sense of reverence. Curator: Absolutely. This illustration presents us with a powerful visual of motherhood. Consider how the Madonna figure has been used as a symbol of purity and power in many societies. What power dynamics are at play here? Editor: Thinking about the materials and the printing process, it points to wider access to imagery and ideas, a shift in consumption and the democratization of art making. Curator: Indeed. It asks us to examine not just the image itself but also the conditions that made its dissemination possible and who its intended audience may have been. Editor: Yes, the material conditions of the printing press shaping not just the aesthetic, but also the social impact of this illustration. Curator: Understanding this piece involves looking through the lens of gender, class, and access. Editor: And acknowledging the social impact of the printing press, shifting cultural landscapes through reproducible images.