Grotto of Cani c. 17th century

Curator: This intriguing woodcut is titled "Grotto of Cani." Look at that skeletal figure perched atop the mountain! What’s your initial read? Editor: It feels like a stark warning, almost a memento mori etched in miniature. The thick lines, the claustrophobic composition—it's death pressing in from all sides, no? Curator: Absolutely. The inscription below speaks of a grotto where "everything alive that enters, dies." It’s thought to depict a real place, near Naples, known for its toxic volcanic fumes. Editor: So, this isn’t just a symbolic representation of death; it's rooted in the very real dangers of the natural world. I’m curious about the labor involved in its making, the physical act of carving those lines into the block. Curator: I am struck by the human presence, so small against the landscape, as they lead the poor dog, surely to its doom. What does it mean to tempt fate, knowing its likely outcome? Editor: It's a potent reminder of our vulnerability, how easily life can be extinguished by forces beyond our control. Makes you think about our impact on the world around us, doesn't it?