Truth c. 1590

Curator: The artwork before us, titled "Truth," an engraving of unknown origin held in the Harvard Art Museums, strikes me immediately with its density of figures and textures. The rendering of cloth and bodies is remarkable. Editor: The central figure, a personification of Truth, stands at the nexus of competing ideologies, scales in one hand, a book in the other, seemingly judging earthly and divine realms. It begs the question: who gets to define Truth? Curator: Note how the light illuminates the central figure's body. This print demonstrates the engraver's mastery of line, creating gradations of tone solely through hatching and cross-hatching, a complex and time-consuming process. Editor: I'm also interested in how the artist uses Truth as a symbol in the face of conflict. The engraving situates Truth amidst chaos, speaking to historical and social anxieties surrounding power, knowledge, and representation. Curator: I agree. This image offers a glimpse into the labor and skill involved in printmaking during the period. Editor: Ultimately, this artwork challenges us to critically examine the narratives we inherit and the power structures that shape our understanding of the world.