Raising of Lazarus c. 15th century

Curator: Here we have an anonymous woodcut print titled "Raising of Lazarus," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It strikes me as quite stark. The crude lines and minimal color give it a direct, almost unsettling power. Curator: Woodcuts such as these, popular during the medieval period, served a vital public function. Disseminating biblical scenes democratized religious imagery. Editor: And consider the labor! Each line painstakingly carved into wood, reflecting the manual process of image production before mechanization. Curator: Indeed. This print offers a window into the past, revealing the intersection of faith, material, and the public sphere. Editor: The medium itself seems to emphasize the very human effort to both record and spread the miracle it represents. Curator: A fitting testament to the enduring power of simple materials and faith to move and inspire. Editor: Definitely! A reminder that art, at its core, is also about labor and accessibility.