Five Jewish Doctors in a Room, Illustration from Seelen-Wurzgarten. Ulm, Conrad Dinckmut, July 26 or October 4, 1483 c. 15th century

Editor: This anonymous woodcut, "Five Jewish Doctors in a Room," made in 1483, has a peculiar depth created by the architecture. What do you make of the composition? Curator: The stark lines and their arrangement within the frame are quite compelling. Note how the artist uses varied line weights to suggest depth. The figures appear compressed, almost claustrophobic. Editor: Yes, I see that now! The linear perspective seems flattened. What might that suggest? Curator: It disrupts a seamless reading of space, highlighting the materiality of the print itself. The lines don't just depict figures, they *are* figures, constructing the image's reality. Editor: So, the medium is the message? Curator: Precisely. It's a powerful statement about representation itself. I hadn't considered it from that angle before; thank you for that observation.