Illustration LXV c. 16th century

Curator: This is Illustration LXV, created by an anonymous artist. It’s currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: There's a quirky, almost dreamlike quality to the composition, like a medieval storybook page come to life. Curator: Indeed. We see a cross-section of society, each seemingly disconnected yet occupying the same plane. The banners with text likely represent months of the year and their associated activities. Editor: I'm struck by the contrast between the grounded figures and the more adventurous scene with the ships. Is it about stability versus exploration, maybe? Curator: It invites discussions about social hierarchies and how labor and leisure were divided. Who gets to sail away, and who is left tending the livestock? Editor: I see what you mean. It's not just a pretty picture but a coded commentary on the social contract. Curator: Exactly. And for me, the lack of a known artist makes it a potent symbol of communal expression. Editor: It certainly prompts us to consider who gets to tell the story. I'm left wondering who these people were, and what they made of their lives.