Illustration XXI c. 15th century

Editor: This is Illustration XXI, artist unknown. It's at the Harvard Art Museums. The scene feels chaotic, almost apocalyptic. What symbols or stories do you think are embedded in this image? Curator: Consider the burning building in the background – fire is transformative, destructive, but also purifying. And the figures themselves, the riders perhaps representing authority, while others are vulnerable and exposed. What narratives might this evoke? Perhaps conquest, displacement, or resistance? Editor: It's interesting how the figures seem to be reacting to different things – some are charging forward, others pleading. I hadn’t considered the possible theme of resistance. Curator: Yes, consider also how the artist's hand guides our interpretation of these symbols. The image is not just a record, but a statement. Editor: It definitely gives me a lot to think about in terms of how symbols interact within a broader cultural narrative. Curator: Exactly! Visual symbols, when understood, unlock the past.