Witch Riding on a Skeleton c. 16th century

Curator: Agostino Veneziano's "Witch Riding on a Skeleton" is a chaotic dance with death and the occult, etched onto a surprisingly large sheet of paper. What's your gut reaction? Editor: It’s intensely unsettling. The skeletal chariot is gruesome, but the naked figures give it a weirdly celebratory feel. Curator: Right? It’s a bacchanal of bones! I see it as a symbolic comment on power structures, how they are supported by the grotesque and unsustainable... Editor: Absolutely, and don't forget the process, it's an engraving, think about the labor and precision required to create this intricate scene by hand. Curator: Knowing it was likely printed and distributed makes the subversive nature even more delicious, right? Editor: Precisely! It's a material testament to the dissemination of taboo ideas. Curator: A morbid carnival for the eyes! Editor: Indeed, a fascinating blend of craft and critique.