Profanation of Parnassus c. 16th century

Curator: Here we have "Profanation of Parnassus," an engraving by an anonymous artist, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's quite dense, isn't it? The layering of figures and landscape feels almost overwhelming. Look at how the artist uses all of those fine lines, you can almost feel the pressure of the tool. Curator: The print depicts a chaotic scene from classical mythology – the Muses on Mount Parnassus being disturbed, perhaps a commentary on artistic corruption. Notice the inclusion of Pegasus, too. Editor: I'm struck by how the landscape seems to almost engulf the figures, drawing attention to nature's raw power and the impermanence of any one cultural moment. The material world as the ultimate authority. Curator: Indeed, that tension is key. The work speaks to the ever-present anxiety about the state of the arts and the role of institutions in shaping creative output. Editor: I’ll be thinking about what survives and by what labor from this work, and who and how cultural items are preserved. Curator: And I am reflecting on the narratives we construct and the constant re-evaluation of our cultural inheritance.