Grotesque with a Winged Female Torso Flanked by Owls 16th-17th century

Curator: Look at this print, "Grotesque with a Winged Female Torso Flanked by Owls" by Johann Theodor de Bry. It’s housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's so small! Almost jewel-like, but also very unsettling. Curator: De Bry was a master printmaker. Consider the labor required to achieve this level of detail on such a tiny scale. Think of the tools he must have used. Editor: And the grotesque imagery! Winged torso, owls... It feels like a commentary on power and hidden knowledge, especially during a time of social and religious upheaval. Curator: Exactly! Prints like these circulated widely, informing visual culture and influencing taste. I wonder who owned this? Editor: It's fascinating to consider the journey of this small object through time and the meanings it may have held for different audiences. Curator: Indeed, a testament to the enduring power of art, even in miniature.