Tower with a Pointed Roof c. 18th century

Curator: Today, we’re looking at Ferdinand Kobell’s print, "Tower with a Pointed Roof," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels wonderfully old, like a fairytale illustration but with a slightly unsettling atmosphere, almost gothic. Curator: The engraving technique lends itself well to that mood. Note the meticulous cross-hatching that defines the forms and creates a sense of depth. The tower, a central motif, is framed by the dense foliage and figures. Editor: Yes, it’s a structured composition, a dialogue between nature and man-made structures. I like how the foliage is almost obscuring the tower, nature slowly reclaiming the space. Curator: Indeed, the semiotic interplay is fascinating here. The pointed roof symbolizes aspiration, while the encroaching landscape hints at the ephemeral nature of human endeavor. Editor: It makes me want to write a story about the people there, what they're seeing and feeling in that particular moment. Curator: It's an image that lingers in the mind. Editor: A brief glimpse into another world, full of stories waiting to be told.