A Pharisee and a tax collector pray in the temple c. 15th century

Editor: This woodcut, "A Pharisee and a Tax Collector Pray in the Temple," is by an anonymous artist. It's striking how the artist uses line and color to create distinct characters. What meaning do you glean from the contrast in their postures and the overall composition? Curator: The rigid posture of the Pharisee speaks to pride, while the tax collector’s more humble stance is about contrition. The temple setting highlights a tension: who embodies true piety? The symbols here are less about aesthetics and more about moral judgment, a cultural memory of religious hypocrisy. Editor: So, the image becomes a kind of mirror, reflecting societal values. Curator: Precisely. It invites viewers to question their own spiritual standing and challenges our understanding of external displays of faith. It prompts introspection, something every good piece should do. Editor: That’s a powerful idea! I'll never look at religious art the same way again.