Illustration XLI c. 16th century

Curator: This is Illustration XLI, held here at the Harvard Art Museums, by an anonymous artist. The starkness of the lines definitely grabs one's attention. Editor: Yes, there's a raw, unsettling quality to this image, like a half-remembered nightmare rendered in wood. All those severed heads are rather disturbing. Curator: Indeed. We see the symbols of power and conquest. Notice the banners bearing names, the ladder leading up to the fortress of Troia. These are visual shorthands. Editor: The severed heads certainly evoke trophies of war, but also hint at deeper psychological themes, perhaps anxieties around mortality and the ephemeral nature of victory. Curator: Perhaps, but consider how the artist has used line weight to create depth, drawing the eye to specific points of narrative importance. The modulation is rather remarkable. Editor: I see your point, yet I'm still drawn to the unsettling imagery. The names Nissus and Euryalus, what do they represent within the story being illustrated? Curator: Ultimately, this image is a study in contrasts: the rigid lines versus the fluid movement, the horror versus the pomp. It's quite effective. Editor: Yes, a potent reminder of the stories cultures tell themselves. I will be looking at this stark little image for quite some time.