The Nativity c. 16th century

Curator: Here we have Nicoletto da Modena’s engraving, "The Nativity," dating from the 16th century. Editor: It’s so delicate. The hatching creates a wonderfully ethereal atmosphere, but also evokes, to me, the precarity of new life amidst societal structures represented by those imposing architectural forms. Curator: Modena masterfully merges classical architecture with a raw, almost exposed framework, which resonates with the themes of rebirth and transformation at the heart of the Nativity story. See the ruins that frame the Holy Family? Editor: Yes, and isn't it striking? That incomplete structure almost speaks to the construction, and subsequent dismantling, of traditional power dynamics at the birth of a figure who would challenge those very structures. The divine entering the world within these imposing Roman forms feels almost subversive. Curator: Precisely. The ruin juxtaposed with burgeoning plant life hints at the superseding of the old order, evoking ideas from the period about nature reclaiming classical civilisation. Even the bare tree growing inside of the skeletal wooden structure may contain a wealth of hidden symbology that draws meaning from pagan roots. Editor: Absolutely, and the stark linear style reminds us this piece exists in the fascinating period of printmaking’s rise. Who got to interpret the scripture and how it circulated, dramatically changed at this time in Europe. What would have been the piece’s role in these cultural and religious shifts? Curator: This work exists as both a devotional object and a demonstration of skill and knowledge, appealing to a broad audience, while acting as a kind of visual bridge, spanning cultural divides. I like to think that artists have always pushed boundaries with symbols by investing them with meaning beyond their conventional scope. Editor: It really encourages us to question our perceptions. From this perspective, something so traditionally rendered embodies the tensions inherent to shifting power structures. Thank you. Curator: Thank you. Hopefully, listeners feel they've gotten to explore Modena's work from a fresh vantage.