Holy Family c. 17th century

Curator: Oh, there's something truly dreamlike in this print. It’s Ludolph Büsink's "Holy Family," housed right here at the Harvard Art Museums. The image feels so immediate, as if we're peering into a fleeting moment. Editor: It does evoke a sense of intimacy. The way they are nestled together suggests a protected, almost hidden space. The staff hints at a journey, maybe a flight. Curator: Exactly! And think of the symbolic weight: the staff as a sign of safe passage, the mother and child archetype representing hope and new beginnings. Editor: It's that interplay of the intimate and the symbolic that makes it so compelling. The lines themselves seem to cradle the figures. It's like a lullaby in ink. Curator: A lullaby, yes! A perfect description. There's a quiet strength here too. Editor: Well, it’s a very human take on divinity. Curator: Indeed, the everyday made sacred.