Illustration XXII c. 16th century

Curator: This anonymous work, titled Illustration XXII, feels like a forgotten echo from some ancient book. What springs to mind for you? Editor: It's so dynamic! All these horses charging, swords raised. It almost feels like the raw energy of a printing press made visible. Curator: It does have a wonderful energy. One has to wonder about its original context. The piece is likely an illustration from some early printed book depicting a classical subject. Editor: Right, the woodcut medium tells us so much about production. Each line, a deliberate cut – think about the labor involved in creating so many of these images, making ancient tales available. Curator: The detail crammed into this small space is amazing. You can sense the story unfolding within it, even without knowing the specifics. Editor: Absolutely, this image is a testament to the democratization of knowledge, a material shift that empowered new audiences. Curator: A captivating testament to the power of stories, and the human desire to bring them to life. Editor: Indeed, and a valuable reminder that art is so frequently linked to the means of its production.