Scene IV c. 15th century

Editor: We’re looking at Scene IV, by an anonymous artist. It's at the Harvard Art Museums. The figures seem stiff, and the scene, with women and children, feels domestic, yet formal. What can you tell me about this work? Curator: This print invites us to consider the role of women and children in shaping social narratives. How does its composition, with the women's static poses and the children's relative inactivity, reflect or challenge dominant expectations around gender and childhood in its time? Editor: It's interesting to think about how art reflects societal expectations, especially when so much is unknown. Thanks! Curator: Indeed! It encourages us to question whose stories are being told and how.