Massacre of the Innocents c. 16th century

Editor: This is a print titled "Massacre of the Innocents" by an anonymous artist, here at the Harvard Art Museums. The composition seems dominated by contrasting, almost frantic, diagonal lines. What do you see in the way the artist chose to arrange the figures? Curator: The artist masterfully orchestrates the composition through a calculated interplay of form and line. Note how the architectural ruins, rendered with meticulous detail, serve not merely as backdrop but as a structural framework, anchoring the swirling chaos of the foreground. Editor: The ruins framing the figures really do amplify the tragic scene. Curator: Precisely. Observe, too, how the artist employs contrasting textures—the smooth skin of the figures against the rough-hewn stone—to heighten the visual drama. Did you notice the artist’s conscious use of visual balance, strategically distributing areas of high activity? Editor: I see it now! The balance gives a sense of unsettling order, even within chaos. Curator: Indeed. It's through the formal elements, like line and texture that meaning emerges. A stark reminder of art's power. Editor: This close analysis really changed my perspective; I appreciate the insights into its formal language.