Daniel XIII c. 16th century

Curator: This is "Daniel XIII" by Hans Holbein the Younger. There isn't a specific date associated with it. It feels very dramatic, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely—it's all sharp angles and stark contrasts. It makes me think about how Holbein achieved such intricate detail through woodcut. Curator: Right? The material almost dictates a certain rawness, but he transcends it. And think about the social climate—the rise of printmaking making biblical scenes accessible to a wider audience. Editor: True, making these once rarified scenes available for popular consumption. It almost feels like a prototype for mass media in a way. Curator: Exactly. Holbein's choices, whether conscious or not, shifted the ways stories were disseminated and understood. So much more than just ink on paper. Editor: Yes, and that's what makes this such a fascinating piece, I think, it is a confluence of technical skill, materials, and a changing world. Curator: A convergence indeed. I find myself pondering all the stories this little woodcut could tell. Editor: And I'm left thinking about the labor, skill, and historical forces that converged to create it. Food for thought.