Saint Anthony c. 15th century

Curator: This small, anonymous woodcut print at the Harvard Art Museums is titled "Saint Anthony". The stark contrasts immediately evoke a feeling of medieval piety, don’t they? Editor: Absolutely. The graphic quality, the bold lines... it's almost like a blueprint for a moral lesson. I wonder, what's he holding? Looks like a...club? Curator: Precisely. Saint Anthony is commonly depicted with a staff or a tau cross, emblems of his authority and protection. Note how the artist uses hatched lines to suggest shadow and form, adding depth to the composition. Editor: And it draws your eye right to the center, to the interaction between Anthony and the supplicants. Feels like a plea for help, or maybe forgiveness. Curator: Indeed. The composition directs our gaze through the arrangement of figures and lines. A beautiful study in early printmaking techniques. Editor: Yes, the image resonates beyond its time; it’s a powerful reminder of the timeless human search for solace and guidance.