Ch. 29. On the danger of possessing clothes c. 15th century

Curator: Here we have "Ch. 29. On the danger of possessing clothes," an anonymous work held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's striking how minimalist it is, almost stark. The figures are so simply drawn, yet there's a palpable sense of tension. Curator: Indeed. Woodcuts such as this were often part of didactic texts. Considering the title, the women's gestures likely carry specific moral weight. Editor: I see a shared garment being offered, or perhaps even refused. Clothing as a symbol of worldly attachment… the dangers of vanity, maybe? Curator: Precisely. The choice of clothing points to larger societal anxieties about wealth, status, and, of course, piety. Editor: I find this image fascinating, how it uses such simple forms to address complex human concerns. Curator: It really illuminates how material possessions can hold multifaceted significance across time.