Head-piece c. 16th century

Curator: Here we have an anonymous work, a head-piece held in the Harvard Art Museums. Note its symmetry. Editor: Its linear precision almost suggests a blueprint or a carefully etched seal, a bit dark in mood, wouldn't you say? Curator: The balance between the animals’ heads, the branch, and the decorative frames creates a harmonious composition, irrespective of medium and cultural purpose. Editor: I wonder what context produced such stark imagery, this contrast of wild and pastoral. Were these common symbols, signs of noble houses? Curator: The arrangement of line and form supersedes any immediate narrative, presenting a self-contained, structured visual system. Editor: Perhaps, but I can’t help but wonder about the social function this head-piece once served. It’s a riddle wrapped in ink, isn't it? Curator: Indeed, a fascinating intersection of artistic form and historical speculation!