Illustration LXXII c. 16th century

Curator: Here we have "Illustration LXXII", an intriguing piece from an anonymous hand, currently residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels epic, doesn't it? All that stark black and white, crammed with figures and landscape it’s like a dreamscape after a wild storm. Curator: It's a woodcut, which explains the strong contrast. Look at how the artist uses hatching to create depth and texture, particularly in the depiction of the figure and the turbulent waters below. Editor: The lettering is so dramatic too. EREBUS floating near that boat. The artist doesn't seem too concerned with scale. Curator: Indeed, and consider the layering. "Illustration LXXII" invites us to contemplate the power of the sea, the transience of life, perhaps even the human relationship with the sublime. Editor: Yes, it's a tiny illustration that somehow contains a world. The raw energy practically jumps off the page. Curator: Leaving us with a small image and an abundance of story. Editor: Definitely makes you wonder about the lost context and the person who made it.