Christmas card 1954

Curator: This is a Christmas card by Margarete Köhler, part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. It measures roughly 10 by 5 centimeters. Editor: Immediately, I see a collision of stark contrasts—the black and the selective use of red feel visually arresting. Curator: The image employs bold linework and lettering. The German text and abstracted candle seem to hearken back to early Expressionist woodcuts, imbuing a sacred subject with modern anxiety. Editor: Absolutely. Given its probable context, I wonder about the card's function beyond a simple holiday greeting. Perhaps Köhler was critiquing the performative aspects of Christmas traditions? Curator: That's a compelling idea. The candle, a universal symbol of hope, anchors the composition, promising light even amidst potential societal critiques. Editor: Perhaps this tension offers a space for genuine reflection and resistance to empty commercialism that runs rampant during the holidays. Curator: It is indeed, a poignant reminder that symbols can simultaneously reinforce and question cultural narratives. Editor: It really does invite us to consider the layered meanings behind familiar customs.