The Knight who was forgiven his debts by his King but then had his fellow servant arrested on account of a small debt c. 15th century

Curator: This anonymous artwork, entitled "The Knight who was forgiven his debts by his King but then had his fellow servant arrested on account of a small debt," presents a sharp moral lesson. I find the composition rather unsettling. Editor: Yes, there's a starkness to it. The rough lines and flat color suggest this was likely a quickly produced, perhaps even disposable, print, reflecting a wide audience. Curator: Exactly! Such images disseminated moral tales, influencing societal norms through visual rhetoric. The King's forgiveness contrasts the Knight's cruelty, highlighting hypocrisy. Editor: And consider the materials. Woodcut prints like these involved a direct carving into wood, a labor-intensive process, to generate images meant for mass consumption. What’s interesting is the use of cheap materials to show the importance of value. Curator: An interesting point, it really reflects the distribution of power and morality within the social fabric of the time. Editor: Indeed, a powerful, if sobering, glimpse into the past. Curator: A stark reminder of human failings, captured through readily available means.