Illustration IX c. 1491

Editor: This is Illustration IX by an anonymous artist, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It's...intense. The imagery feels very medieval, like a morality play. What symbols stand out to you? Curator: It’s a powerful image. Consider the juxtaposition of the divine figures on the left, with the vulnerable child, versus the monstrous beast on the right, consuming a figure in flames. This recalls a very old symbolic language of salvation and damnation. Editor: So, it's not just a scary picture, but a representation of a bigger idea? Curator: Precisely. The monster isn't just a monster, but a symbol of sin, death, or perhaps even the Devil. The figures above, a promise of redemption. How does that affect your reading of the image? Editor: It gives it more weight. I was focused on the visceral impact, but now I see a story about hope and fear. Curator: Exactly, and that's the power of symbols. They resonate across time and cultures, carrying complex narratives within simple forms. Editor: Thanks, it's fascinating how much is packed into one image.