Illustration XXVII c. 16th century

Curator: Here we have Illustration XXVII from an unknown artist, part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It has this immediate, crude energy. The stark black lines against the white create a scene that feels both medieval and unsettling, almost folkloric. Curator: The woodcut technique is central here. Notice how the artist used simple cuts to define form and space, achieving a strong sense of depth despite the limited tonal range. Editor: I'm drawn to the labor involved. Each line represents a deliberate carving, a physical act of creation that speaks to the printmaking process itself, a method of making the image accessible. Curator: The composition leads the eye from the figures with the instruments to the riders emerging from the town. It creates a formal progression. Editor: Right. It gives us a glimpse into the ways images like this could communicate power and information during that period, and the physical work involved in that transmission. Curator: Exactly. It shows us how the artist skillfully exploited the medium to render a compelling narrative, even without a single, known author. Editor: Indeed, an artifact of human toil and an echo of stories told long ago.