Parable of the Wicked Tenants c. 15th century

Curator: We’re looking at a woodcut called "Parable of the Wicked Tenants," an anonymous work held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Woah, that's intense! It's giving me a very dark, folk-horror kind of vibe. The stark black lines make it feel so immediate and raw. Curator: Indeed. Note how the composition frames the violence within a seemingly idyllic vineyard, complete with ripe grapes and a tower suggesting prosperity and control. The diagonal lines of the figures enhance the dramatic tension. Editor: Exactly! The grapes almost feel mocking, like this twisted abundance surrounding something awful. And that tower, it's so rigid, but also vulnerable. It makes me wonder about power and the corruption that comes with it. Curator: The stark contrasts and simplified forms also contribute to the overall symbolic weight, amplifying the narrative's moral lesson. Editor: It really makes you think about how good intentions, or at least appearances, can mask something truly sinister. I'll definitely be carrying this one with me. Curator: A powerful reminder that even in simplicity, profound complexities can emerge.