Book XXV.14. Battle at Beneventum {Tertiae Decadis Liber Quintus p. CXXXII verso} 1493

Curator: This is "Book XXV.14. Battle at Beneventum," an anonymous work housed at the Harvard Art Museums. What strikes you first? Editor: A kind of frenzied energy! The black ink creates these sharp, almost violent contrasts. It's like a visual scream. Curator: Indeed. Note the woodcut's linear qualities, where each line serves to define form and delineate space within a chaotic scene. Editor: You know, I see more than just chaos. Look at the tension, the implied narratives within each figure. It's like a micro-drama playing out. Curator: Precisely. This work encapsulates not only a battle but a moment frozen in time, rendered with remarkable stylistic economy. Editor: Right. It’s a snapshot, rough but incredibly vital. Something primal about it, even. Curator: A fitting distillation, I think. It offers a fascinating lens through which to explore conflict and artistic expression. Editor: Totally. It's raw, immediate...like a forgotten memory unearthed.