The Councillor c. 16th century

Curator: This is Hans Holbein the Younger's "The Councillor," housed right here at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a woodcut, dense with detail, and immediately strikes me as…unsettling, to say the least. Editor: Unsettling? Yes, but I'm drawn to how Holbein utilizes the graphic nature of woodcut to depict the social hierarchy. The stark lines emphasize the councillor's status, contrasted with the ragged figure beside him. Curator: The skeleton wielding an hourglass at their feet, though! It feels like mortality breathing down their necks in a very visceral way. Editor: It's a clear memento mori, reminding us of the omnipresence of death. Holbein masterfully interweaves the themes of class, labor, and the ultimate equalizer. The material and the message, perfectly aligned. Curator: I get a sense of inevitability, almost, or maybe it's a dark joke? Editor: Perhaps Holbein is suggesting the futility of earthly power, even in the face of such craftsmanship. Curator: It is thought-provoking, as are many of Holbein's pieces. Editor: A beautiful example of how material constraints can lead to powerful artistic expression.