Saturn c. 16th century

Curator: This is Girolamo Scarsello's "Saturn," an engraving depicting the Roman god. The work resides here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The stark, almost skeletal figure immediately conveys a sense of looming mortality, doesn’t it? Curator: Absolutely. Saturn, the god of time, is frequently symbolized by the scythe, as we see here, which represents the harvest of souls. The artist uses hatching and cross-hatching to create volume and define the figure's musculature. Editor: The wispy clouds add to the ethereal quality, further emphasizing Saturn's connection to fate and the cyclical nature of life and death. This image resonates deeply with our collective anxieties about aging and oblivion. Curator: An insightful interpretation. It's fascinating how Scarsello captures the somber weight of time through such carefully constructed lines. Editor: Indeed, a poignant meditation on the human condition.