1 Kings I c. 16th century

Curator: Let's discuss Hans Holbein the Younger's "1 Kings I," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It strikes me as a study in power dynamics. The supplicant's posture, the King's upright stance, it's all carefully constructed. Curator: Indeed. Holbein, active in a tumultuous period, used his art to reflect on the sociopolitical structures of his time. This woodcut, likely part of a series, depicts a scene of royal authority. Editor: The austerity of the lines, the stark contrast, speaks to a certain moral rigidity as well, wouldn't you say? Do you think Holbein is making a statement about the divine right of Kings? Curator: Perhaps. Or perhaps he's documenting the performative nature of power, the rituals that reinforce hierarchy. The image offers a lens through which we can consider the nature of power relations. Editor: A potent reminder that art, even in the 16th century, was always engaged in political dialogue. Curator: Exactly. It's a conversation that continues to resonate today, as we grapple with our own systems of power and representation.