Cut XXIX c. 16th century

Curator: Here we have "Cut XXIX," an intriguing print from an anonymous artist, held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: What a striking, almost unsettling little image! The sharp contrast of the black ink makes the face in the center so prominent. Curator: Absolutely. Note the elaborate framing. The geometric shapes and floral elements give it a strong sense of structure. There is an interesting tension between those rigid forms and the more organic curves. Editor: That central face… it reminds me of a theatrical mask. Perhaps a symbol of performance, or hidden identity? And are those laurel wreaths suggesting triumph, or perhaps a satirical commentary? Curator: It could certainly represent those themes. Or, alternatively, the use of line, the way the shapes play off each other… Editor: It's remarkable how much meaning can be packed into such a small design. I find the ambiguity truly compelling. Curator: Yes, the beauty in such elemental forms.