Illustration XXXIX c. 16th century

Curator: Here we have "Illustration XXXIX," a woodcut from an anonymous artist, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels like a dramatic escape scene! The stark black lines give it a sense of urgency, almost frantic. Curator: Absolutely. We see figures carrying Anchises, Aeneas holding a banner, all set against a backdrop of a burning city, maybe Troy. Editor: The linear perspective is fascinating. Look how the artist uses parallel lines to suggest depth—it's so stylized, almost theatrical! Curator: Woodcuts like this, they were about storytelling, conveying narratives to a broad audience. The simplicity, it makes it so immediate. Editor: You're right, there’s a raw emotion that comes through in these simple cuts. I wonder what tale this illustration would whisper, if we could only listen closely enough.