Border with Tantalus c. 16th century

Editor: This elaborate Holbein border print, “Border with Tantalus,” is fascinating. The classical figures framing the text give it a real sense of gravitas. What do you see in this piece that I might be missing? Curator: It’s a powerful statement about the relationship between classical learning and Christian faith during the Reformation. Notice how Holbein uses figures like Tantalus and Pelops, punished in Hades, to frame a dedication to a high-ranking cleric. What does that juxtaposition suggest to you about the anxieties of the time? Editor: It's like he's acknowledging the tensions between the old pagan world and the new Christian one. Curator: Precisely. Holbein wasn't just decorating a page; he was engaging in a complex cultural dialogue. He positions the cleric as a bulwark defending "Chrstianæ pietatis." The border pushes against the text, doesn't it? It questions the very stability of these identities. Editor: I never would have picked up on all those layers. Thanks for pointing them out!