Mary Anoints Christ c. 15th century

Curator: Let's consider this striking, anonymous woodcut held at the Harvard Art Museums, "Mary Anoints Christ." The date of its creation remains unknown, but its thematic echoes resonate through centuries of art history and religious expression. What’s your immediate impression? Editor: It feels… stark. The thick lines, the high contrast… like a story etched in stone, or maybe burned into wood. So much reverence, but with an edge. Curator: Indeed. The piece brings up compelling questions around gender and power. Mary's act of anointing, often interpreted as humility, can also be seen as a profound act of agency within a patriarchal structure. Editor: I see what you mean. It’s a charged moment, this offering. The composition focuses on the intimate gesture while the men in the background observe. Curator: The choice of such stark black and white forces us to confront the simplicity and the complexity of the narrative. Editor: It's left me with a lot to consider, the weight of history, and the artist's hand. Curator: Precisely. And it reveals the intersectional forces at play. Editor: That starkness does leave its mark, doesn't it? A reminder of the power of simple lines to tell complicated stories.