Three Figures used by Vérard c. 15th century

Editor: This is an anonymous piece called "Three Figures used by Vérard," and what strikes me is the use of line and how that dictates the form of the figures. How do you read this woodcut? Curator: Note how the stark contrast between black and white flattens the image, eschewing depth for symbolic representation. The composition is divided into distinct planes, each defined by dense parallel lines. Editor: So it's less about realism and more about symbolic form? Curator: Precisely. Consider the angel hovering above: a visual element that is not just decorative but integral to the work's semiotic framework. What does this suggest to you? Editor: I see now that the linear choices define the visual language and its intended meaning. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure. The study of form always reveals deeper truths.