Sloth, from the series "The Seven Deadly Sins" early 20th century (original from c.1540)

Curator: This is "Sloth, from the series 'The Seven Deadly Sins'," a small bronze relief at the Harvard Art Museums, made by an anonymous artist. The first impression is the texture, it almost feels like a clay molding. Editor: Absolutely. The flowing lines and the figure’s relaxed pose create a languid, almost dreamlike quality. The figure seems almost angelic with the large wings. Curator: The angel figure is an interesting choice, considering sloth's association with inaction. Perhaps the artist saw sloth as a spiritual failing, a refusal to rise to one's potential. Editor: Or perhaps there's a commentary here on the material conditions that lead to sloth. The anonymous artist's labor, made affordable through bronze casting, meets consumption. Curator: It certainly makes you think about the complex layers of meaning embedded in this small, seemingly simple, relief. Editor: Indeed, it reminds us that even something as seemingly straightforward as sloth is deeply intertwined with our cultural values and societal structures.