Illustration XVIII c. 16th century

Editor: This is Illustration XVIII by an anonymous artist at the Harvard Art Museums. It feels very much of its time, with the figures labeled and a very clear, linear quality. How do you interpret this work? Curator: I see a fascinating interplay between the production of meaning and the materials themselves. The woodcut, a relatively inexpensive medium, made this imagery accessible to a wider audience. Consider the labor involved in carving the block and the social context it served. Editor: So the material itself informed who would view it? Curator: Precisely! The choice of woodcut democratized the narrative, moving art consumption beyond the elite circles. Editor: That's really interesting. I never thought about it that way. Curator: Considering art as a product of material conditions offers a new lens, right?