Illustration VII c. 1491

Curator: Here we see "Illustration VII," an anonymous work held at the Harvard Art Museums. My immediate response is to the angularity of the lines and the limited palette. Stark and direct. Editor: Indeed. It is important to remember that early printmaking, like this example, served a very public function. Woodcuts like these would have circulated widely, often conveying religious or moral lessons to a broad audience. Curator: Consider the composition itself: the architectural structure on the left, balanced against the figures on the right. The eye moves from the prisoner, a face of despair, to the three figures in the foreground who look on. Editor: Precisely, and the figures, with their halos, suggest a narrative involving judgment or intervention, further shaped by the era's notions of justice and divine will. Curator: The texture achieved through the lines is, in fact, quite compelling, creating a surprising depth. Editor: Such a simple, effective way of storytelling! We have really unpacked the social context and formal construction of this piece.