Magi c. 10th century

Curator: This is "Magi," an intriguing, small-scale carving residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. The artist is, sadly, unknown. Editor: It has such a quiet solemnity, doesn't it? The surface feels almost worn smooth, like a cherished object. Curator: Indeed. Note the composition, how the figures are layered, almost compressed into the pictorial space. The foregrounded magus presents an offering, while another stands behind. Editor: Their faces are so intense. And that basket of offerings is overflowing. It looks less like a gift and more like a burden somehow. Curator: Consider how the artist uses the medium itself. The carving isn't about realistic depiction; it's about conveying the essence of the scene, the weight of reverence. Editor: I see it, this beautiful old thing. Still whispering its story after all this time. Curator: Precisely. And that’s the enduring power of art, isn't it?