Illustration XII: Taking refuge in the wilderness of Ziph, David receives Jonathan and the two form a covenant. In the meantime, King Saul enlists the Ziphites to hunt him down (I Samuel 23: 14-24). c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have an anonymous illustration, "Illustration XII: Taking refuge in the wilderness of Ziph..." It feels heavy with religious and political tension. What do you see in this woodcut? Curator: I see power structures at play, even in covenants. Notice how David, though taking refuge, isn't truly free; he's still being hunted, his agency limited by Saul's actions. Editor: So, it's not just a story about faith, but also about oppression and the struggle for autonomy? Curator: Exactly. How does this resonate with contemporary struggles for liberation, particularly for marginalized groups seeking refuge? Editor: It makes me think about how even seeking safety can be fraught with precarity and power imbalances. Curator: Precisely. Art helps us engage with history and see its echoes in our present.