Gerson as a Pilgrim c. 15th century

Editor: This is an anonymous piece called "Gerson as a Pilgrim." It's a black and white print, and I’m struck by the detail in the cross-hatching and the determined look on the pilgrim’s face. What formal elements stand out to you? Curator: The linear quality is paramount; observe how the artist uses line not only to delineate form, but to create texture and suggest depth. Consider the directional shifts of the lines and the varying densities that model the figure and the landscape. Editor: So, the lines themselves become the subject as much as the pilgrim? Curator: Precisely. The strategic deployment of these lines, their convergence and divergence, constructs the visual narrative and conveys a sense of movement and even emotion, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: I see that now. I hadn't thought about the lines carrying so much of the meaning.