Illustration LXXXI c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have Illustration LXXXI by an anonymous artist, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a detailed woodcut, depicting what looks like everyday life. What strikes me is the labor involved in everything portrayed. What stands out to you? Curator: The labor is definitely central. Notice how the materiality of the wood informs every stage of the process, from the trees being felled to the structures being built. This challenges our ideas of art as purely aesthetic. Editor: How so? Curator: By drawing our attention to the means of production. The artist's labor in creating the woodcut mirrors the depicted labor, blurring the line between craft and fine art. It’s about production, not just depiction, right? Editor: Right, I hadn't thought about the act of creating the image in that way. Thanks!