The angels holding back the four winds c. 16th century

Curator: Hans Holbein the Younger, who lived from about 1497 to 1543, created this intriguing woodcut print, "The angels holding back the four winds" which is held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels so apocalyptic! All that swirling wind and the rather stern angels…it almost makes me shiver. Curator: Well, it's believed that the engraving could be a symbolic representation of the Reformation. The tools used for woodcuts, and the subsequent prints, allowed for widespread distribution of imagery during the time. Editor: The line work is just amazing, so precise, almost obsessive. I wonder what the artist was feeling as they worked on it? Did he see himself as one of those angels, battling against chaos? Curator: The availability of paper, inks, and the craft itself were critical. A piece like this reminds us of how art functions as a powerful tool in shaping culture. Editor: It’s a powerful image, I can feel the weight of history and the human condition pressing down. Curator: Indeed, a compelling glimpse into a complex moment in time.