Judges I c. 16th century

Curator: I find myself drawn to the raw energy emanating from this print. Editor: Indeed. This is Hans Holbein the Younger's "Judges I," a woodcut illustrating a scene of violent justice, or perhaps vengeance. It feels quite brutal. Curator: Holbein's choice of imagery here is fascinating. The crude lines amplify the savagery of the moment. There is something undeniably symbolic about the act of severing the head. Editor: Absolutely, the severing can be read as the ultimate form of power exerted upon the victim. And it must be placed within the context of Holbein's time, the Reformation, a time of immense social upheaval. Curator: The composition, with its chaotic arrangement of figures, reminds us of the frailty and fallibility of humankind even in the face of divine law. The violence becomes its own symbol. Editor: It’s a stark reminder that those who claim the mantle of justice often inflict their own forms of violence, a pattern that continues to echo through history. Curator: A grim, but perhaps essential meditation. Editor: Definitely, it asks us to consider how power is wielded, then and now.