The Sacrifice of Isaac, with Guinea Pig, Rabbit, and Monkey 1582 - 1586

Curator: This is Adriaen Collaert's engraving, "The Sacrifice of Isaac, with Guinea Pig, Rabbit, and Monkey" from the late 16th or early 17th century. The print is located here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The detail is incredible. The way he's articulated the textures of the animals is quite fascinating. And there is so much depth created by the delicate, layered lines. Curator: It's thought that prints like this one circulated widely, allowing those without access to original paintings to engage with biblical narratives. Editor: It's an odd combination of the sacred and profane, wouldn't you say? The sacrificial scene is framed by the rather secular imagery of animals and decorative foliage. It's unsettling. Curator: Perhaps the animals are symbolic, acting as reminders of God's creation and providence. Or maybe the inclusion of such quotidian imagery was a way to normalize the extreme, making the scene more palatable. Editor: It's the linear precision that gets me—the way the stark contrasts and gradients form the composition, guiding the eye through Collaert's complex symbolic world. Curator: The politics of imagery in religious prints of this period were complex and contested, especially with the rise of Protestantism. It's a fascinating intersection of faith, art, and social change. Editor: Ultimately, it's the aesthetic impact that resonates most profoundly, the masterly execution of this unsettling composition.