Relief on the triumphal car. The Rape of Europa. (fol. k iiii recto) c. 15th century

Curator: Here, we have an intriguing relief print of Europa's abduction, rendered anonymously. It belongs to the Harvard Art Museums collection and is quite small, about 7.5 by 12.8 cm. Editor: It looks like a hurried dream. A very linear dream, with that strange text looming above. Curator: Note the stark lines, the interplay of textures—water versus foliage. The engraver's mark-making suggests depth despite the print's modest scale. Editor: And that bull, which is actually Zeus! It really goes to show you how the simplest things can be used to trick someone you're trying to seduce! Curator: Indeed. The lack of shading flattens the scene, yet the composition remains dynamic. It's a study in form. Editor: I'm glad this dream is over. Curator: Form and content converge, leaving much to contemplate.