Border with Dance of Children c. 16th century

Editor: This is a fascinating print, "Border with Dance of Children," by Hans Holbein the Younger, dating back to the 16th century. It strikes me as playful, yet also rather formal. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Playful is spot on! Holbein was a master of wit. Look at how the dance of children echoes the dance of knowledge within the text. Aren’t we all just stumbling along, hand-in-hand, towards understanding? Editor: I hadn't considered the text and image in dialogue. So, this dance isn't merely decorative? Curator: Exactly! The "India new" text suggests exploration, and the children embody that spirit of discovery. Holbein is asking us, "What does it mean to explore, to learn?" It's a question we're still grappling with today. Editor: I'll never look at borders the same way again! Curator: Precisely! Art cracks open how we see the world, doesn't it?