Saint John the Baptist (Printer's Mark of Johannes de Tridino), Illustration from Lactantius, Divina Opera. Venice, Johannes de Tridino, December 18, 1501 c. 16th century

Curator: This is a printer's mark from 1501, "Saint John the Baptist" from Johannes de Tridino's edition of Lactantius's *Divina Opera*. It's a woodcut, isn't it? Editor: It is, and the stark contrast of the black ink on the page lends it a rather austere feel. Very linear, very graphic. You can almost smell the ink and paper. Curator: Indeed. The lamb at John's feet, the scroll, and the cross he holds—these are all deliberate symbols connecting him to Christ's sacrifice. Editor: And considering the printing process, each impression would have been nearly identical, disseminating these symbols widely across society. The repetition itself adds to the symbolism. Curator: The image is also a statement of cultural continuity. Consider the use of John to sanctify the labor of this publication. Editor: Interesting point. It shows how the act of making something—in this case, a book—could itself be imbued with spiritual significance.