Christ holding a sickle; harvesting below c. 16th century

Curator: My first impression? It's like a fever dream, this Holbein print. All that frantic energy channeled into such a small space. Editor: Indeed. What we have here is "Christ holding a sickle; harvesting below," now part of the collection at the Harvard Art Museums. Notice how Holbein uses the woodcut medium. It's all about line and form. Curator: The harvesting... is it hopeful, or horrifying? It reminds me a bit of Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Editor: It's the labor that captivates me, the repetitive, almost industrial feel despite the biblical context. The physical act of reaping and gathering. Curator: It is a reminder that even grace has its material costs, doesn't it? Editor: Precisely. Holbein makes us consider what is gained and what is lost in the process. Curator: Yes. It’s a rather poignant reminder that everything worthwhile demands a certain... cutting away.