Raguelis's Daughter Sara Married to Tobias c. 15th century

Editor: This woodcut's raw energy grabs me. The lines are bold, almost aggressively simple. You feel the artist's hand right there, wrestling with the material to bring these figures to life. Curator: Indeed. What we see is an image without a known date, titled "Raguelis's Daughter Sara Married to Tobias", attributed to an anonymous artist, and currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The stark black and white gives it a sense of drama, doesn't it? It's about faith and tradition but I also see the labor involved, the physical act of carving that block of wood. Curator: Absolutely, and within its historical context, the piece serves as a visual reinforcement of societal norms, marriage, and religious doctrine for a largely illiterate audience. The image, in this way, gains political importance. Editor: That’s fascinating. So, it’s both a work of devotion and a tool for social control? I see how these choices influence the final product. Curator: Precisely. It’s about understanding the social and institutional forces at play. Editor: I’ll look at this woodcut differently now. It's more than a simple illustration; it’s a testament to labor and power.