Illustration XXII 15th-16th century

Editor: This is "Illustration XXII" by an anonymous artist, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. It looks like an early print, maybe a woodcut? I'm struck by the detail in the armor, but also how flat the overall image feels. What stands out to you? Curator: I'm drawn to the process. This print, likely part of a larger book, reveals much about early production and consumption. The labor involved in carving the block, the paper's materiality, and the socio-political context of Hungarian regality all speak to the era's values. How does the text surrounding the image influence your interpretation of the material itself? Editor: I hadn't considered the text's influence on the image as a material object. Thanks, that's a great point! Curator: Considering the means of production shifts our focus from simply aesthetic qualities to the broader scope of the artwork.