Illustration IX c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have Illustration IX, by an anonymous artist, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It feels like a scene ripped from a history book, all bold lines and stark contrast. What story do you think this image is trying to tell? Curator: It's a bustling siege, isn't it? The artist, though unknown, clearly had a flair for capturing action. I wonder if they were trying to glorify war, or perhaps hint at its brutal realities. Maybe both, life is full of contradictions. What do you think? Editor: I hadn't considered the ambiguity. Now I see the chaos and maybe even the futility. Curator: Exactly. Art, especially the old stuff, is rarely one-dimensional.