Pietà c. 20th century

Curator: Luis Jou's "Pieta," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums, presents a striking woodcut composition. Editor: The stark black and white gives it such a dramatic, almost theatrical feel, doesn't it? Like a stage set for grief. Curator: Indeed. Note the strategic deployment of chiaroscuro, the intense contrast amplifying the emotional tenor of the scene. The linear precision in the clouds is particularly compelling. Editor: And there's something deeply moving about the almost graphic simplicity. It distills the raw emotion, cuts right to the heart. Curator: The artist skillfully uses the medium to convey profound solemnity, while also engaging with the formal constraints and possibilities inherent in printmaking. Editor: Yes. It's a somber scene, but also a testament to the power of visual narrative. Curator: A potent convergence of form and feeling. Editor: Absolutely, a memorable and affecting image.