Illustration XXV c. 16th century

Editor: This is Illustration XXV, created by an anonymous artist. It looks like a woodcut or engraving, with a man in robes receiving a message from an angel. How do you interpret this work? Curator: I see a negotiation of power. The very act of illustrating religious narrative served specific didactic purposes. Who commissioned this? Where was it displayed or circulated? Those factors would heavily influence its reception. Editor: So, its impact depended on its context and who saw it? Curator: Precisely. Understanding the cultural and institutional landscape helps us decode its message. I hadn't considered it that way before. Thanks! Editor: Me neither, I appreciate your perspective.