The Confusion of Tongues 1577 - 1579

Editor: This is "The Confusion of Tongues" by Hans Collaert the Elder, a print at the Harvard Art Museums. It's so busy! I am curious about the composition, and the tower in the middle. What do you see in this piece, considering its historical context? Curator: It’s a powerful visual statement on the limits of human ambition, viewed through a specific theological lens. Collaert depicts the Tower of Babel story, a narrative deeply embedded in the cultural anxieties of his time. The image itself, functioning as propaganda, reinforces a particular worldview. Do you see how the figures are arranged? Editor: Yes, there is God on one side and a large group of humans on the other side. It seems to be split in half. Curator: Exactly. Consider how this composition reinforces a power dynamic but also disseminates the story in a tangible way, influencing public perception. Editor: It's interesting how the artwork's message can be tied to the context in which it was made and how the public would have reacted to it. Curator: Indeed, understanding art's role in shaping cultural narratives is key.