Border with Bacchanal c. 16th century

Editor: So, this is "Border with Bacchanal" by Hans Holbein the Younger. It looks like a book page, perhaps? I'm struck by the lively scene at the bottom—a bacchanal, a celebration of sorts—contrasting with the dense text above. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a fascinating interplay between the sacred and the profane. Holbein, with his characteristic wit, positions this riotous scene of Bacchus at the very edge of a religious text. Editor: Profane, really? Curator: Yes, it's a sly commentary, I think. Is it possible that Holbein is asking: can joy and revelry exist alongside faith? Is there room for both in the borderlands of our lives? Editor: That's a fascinating idea! It really makes you wonder about the artist's intent, doesn't it? Curator: Precisely! And that's the joy of art, isn't it? It asks questions, it doesn't always give answers.