Jonah I, II, III c. 16th century

Editor: This is Hans Holbein the Younger's "Jonah I, II, III." The precise date is unknown. It's a detailed drawing. There is a lot of activity in the background, but the figure in the foreground looks to be in distress. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Considering Holbein's time, we must examine the societal pressures on religious expression. Jonah, defying God, speaks to themes of power and resistance. What does it mean to represent a figure unwilling to conform during the Reformation? Editor: So, it's about challenging authority? Curator: Precisely. Holbein uses Jonah to subtly critique the power structures of his time. The image invites us to question obedience and the consequences of dissent, and I now better understand why Jonah is isolated under the tree.