Illustration XVIII c. 1489

Curator: This is "Illustration XVIII" by an anonymous artist. It resides here at the Harvard Art Museums. Look at this scene! Editor: The rawness of the figures strikes me. The artist renders the moment with a certain brutal energy, despite the small scale and seemingly simple composition. Curator: Indeed, though the artist is unknown, we see a clear visual language: the gestures, the symbolic objects... They're steeped in cultural meaning. The crown of thorns, the striking with sticks—they're not just actions, but deeply embedded signifiers of power, subjugation, and resistance, don’t you think? Editor: Precisely, consider the ways in which this scene has been invoked throughout art history and contemporary visual culture to depict resistance against various forms of oppression. This image becomes part of a continuous narrative, a symbolic language connecting past struggles with present ones. Curator: It's powerful how such a small image can carry so much weight. Editor: It reminds us of the enduring relevance of these symbols. They continue to shape our understanding of power, suffering, and resilience.