Time Protecting Truth from Envy 16th-17th century

Curator: This engraving is titled "Time Protecting Truth from Envy" by Hans Collaert the Younger, now residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: A rather frenetic scene, wouldn’t you say? The figures almost burst from the surface, especially given the stark contrasts in line work. Curator: Indeed. Note the intricate cross-hatching—a technique that builds depth and drama through tonal variation. Envy, that winged figure above, is repelled by Time, who shelters Truth. Editor: And observe the materiality of the printing itself. The paper's absorbency, the pressure of the plate, the sheer labor involved in producing multiple impressions of this image for distribution. Curator: Such details heighten the allegory: truth, though vulnerable, is timeless, shielded from fleeting malice. A potent symbolic structure. Editor: It also makes me consider who had access to these images and what that meant for their understanding of these values. Curator: A crucial point. Understanding production illuminates reception, giving further context to Collaert's allegorical work.