The Young Child c. 16th century

Curator: This woodcut, "The Young Child," is by Hans Holbein the Younger, who died in 1543. The work is housed here at Harvard Art Museums. What catches your eye? Editor: The stark contrast between the playful child and the looming figure of Death is immediately unsettling. It's a memento mori, isn't it? Curator: Exactly. The hourglass, the cooking mother, all symbols of time passing, life fleeting. Holbein reminds us that death is always present, even in innocence. Editor: Death's scythe feels more like a plaything in the child's grasp. An almost casual acceptance? Curator: Perhaps. Or maybe the child, in their innocence, doesn't yet understand the weight of that symbol. It's a dark image with strange pockets of light. Editor: It’s fascinating how such a small image can hold so much fear and contemplation. Curator: Holbein's economy of line amplifies that emotional impact, I feel. A stark reminder of our mortality. Editor: It certainly leaves you pondering life’s delicate balance.