The Pope c. 16th century

Editor: This is "The Pope" by Hans Holbein the Younger. It's difficult to put a date on it, but it's housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. The print looks pretty dark, almost satirical. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Oh, absolutely! Holbein had a wicked sense of humor, didn’t he? It is not just any pope; it is a memento mori. The skull above the Pope’s head whispers, "Even you, with all your earthly power, are not immune." Can you feel the almost gleeful macabre energy? Editor: Definitely! So, it's not just about the Pope, but a bigger statement about power and mortality? Curator: Precisely! It's a reminder that vanity and earthly power are fleeting. A visual punchline delivered with Holbein’s signature precision. What a morbid joke! Editor: I never thought about it that way, that is truly incredible. Thanks for shining a light on this piece.