Psalm I c. 16th century

Curator: This is Hans Holbein the Younger's woodcut, "Psalm I," residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. It strikes me as surprisingly intimate for a religious work. Editor: It's the texture of the lines, isn't it? So raw and immediate. I wonder about the labor involved in carving these blocks, the consumption of wood. It's not just the image; it's about the physical making. Curator: Absolutely. And the context! This print circulated widely, making religious imagery accessible beyond the church walls. Consider the political implications of widespread literacy and interpretation. Editor: Look at how the king writes in bed, while the other figures venture outside. It shows the contrast between the life of a ruler and those he governs. Curator: Holbein truly captured the shifting power dynamics of his era. Editor: Seeing how the lines create different areas of dark and light gives us so much to consider. Curator: Indeed, a small print, but a window into a world of changing social and political landscapes. Editor: It seems to have a lot more depth upon closer inspection.