The Rich Man - Scene from the Story of Jehosophat and Barlaam c. 15th century

Curator: Here we have "The Rich Man - Scene from the Story of Jehosophat and Barlaam," an intriguing, anonymous work currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's remarkable how this simple composition conveys such stark societal divisions. The red brick wall seems to physically separate the classes depicted. Curator: Indeed. Consider the labor involved in producing illuminated manuscripts like this. The materials themselves - vellum, pigments, gold leaf - were costly, reflecting patronage and the status of the story itself. Editor: And the story, of course, circulates religious morality. The rich man's opulence is juxtaposed with the figures peering out from the red structure, hinting at a critical stance on wealth distribution. Curator: The artist's choice to include such detailed elements, down to the individual expressions, emphasizes the very human act of creation and consumption of both the artwork and resources. Editor: It's a compelling depiction, even now, reflecting enduring power structures, even if the source of the artwork is unknown. Curator: Exactly. It makes you think about our relationship with objects and the resources required to produce them.