All the Youth c. 16th century

Editor: This is "All the Youth," a woodcut by Hans Burgkmair. It's filled with so much frantic energy! What strikes me is this bizarre scene with children playing war games while adults are, well, also playing war. What's your take on it? Curator: It does seem chaotic, doesn't it? Maybe Burgkmair is pointing out how war, or at least the preparation for it, permeates society at every level? See how even children are mimicking the adults around them? It's like they're already being molded into soldiers. What do you think about the way Burgkmair used this technique? The print is a powerful work. Editor: I see what you mean. It’s like a never-ending cycle, this performance of strength and aggression. Makes you wonder if anything really changes, generation after generation. Curator: Exactly! It's a potent statement about the cyclical nature of conflict. Food for thought, indeed!