Head-piece c. 16th century

Editor: This is an anonymous head-piece print, at the Harvard Art Museums. It features animals against a mountain backdrop, all framed by decorative elements. What historical narratives do you see at play here? Curator: The Latin inscription "Aspicit et Inspicit" – "He looks at and into" – hints at the power dynamics embedded in observation. Who is doing the looking, and at whom? Is the viewer implicated in a form of control? Editor: Control? Curator: Think about the history of natural sciences, colonialism, and the ways animals and landscapes were depicted to justify domination. The "anonymous" artist is also important to consider in this context. What perspectives are missing? Editor: I see... It's a reminder that even seemingly decorative images can reflect broader power structures. Curator: Exactly. And prompts us to question whose gaze shapes our understanding.