Massacre of the Innocents c. 16th century

Editor: This anonymous woodcut, titled "Massacre of the Innocents," shows a chaotic scene. It's difficult to look at! What symbols are at play here? Curator: Indeed. The woodcut's stark black and white intensifies the emotional weight. Note the king enthroned, a clear symbol of earthly power contrasted with the vulnerable infants. The mothers’ poses, especially the figure sprawled in the foreground, echo earlier depictions of the Lamentation of Christ, layering meanings of sacrifice and loss. Editor: So, you're saying that the artist is drawing on familiar imagery to amplify the horror? Curator: Precisely. The "Massacre" becomes a commentary on power, innocence, and cultural memory itself. We see the symbolic weight carried by recurring images. Editor: That makes me think about how artists borrow and reuse symbols. It’s all a continuous visual conversation. Curator: Yes, an image resonates across time, gathering new layers of meaning.