Canto XIII. Circle 7 (Round 2) / The Violent Against Themselves; The Wood of the Suicides; The Hounds of Hell c. 15th century

Curator: Here, let's discuss this woodcut, thought to be an illustration of Canto XIII from Dante's Inferno. It's attributed to an anonymous artist. Editor: My first impression is quite chilling; the twisted trees and figures convey a sense of profound despair and violence. It's dark and claustrophobic. Curator: The scene depicts the Wood of Suicides, the second ring of the seventh circle of Hell. Dante and Virgil encounter souls trapped in thorny trees, tormented by harpies. Socially, suicide was condemned, seen as a rebellion against God's gift of life. Editor: Formally, the artist uses dense, tangled lines to create a sense of chaos and suffering. The sharp, angular forms of the branches mirror the inner torment of the souls. The scale is interesting too; Dante and Virgil are quite large relative to the figures in the trees. Curator: This imagery underscores the poem's moral framework, illustrating the consequences of self-destruction within a medieval worldview. Editor: Indeed, visually and symbolically, it powerfully communicates the anguish and desolation of those who chose to end their own lives. A very stark and evocative piece.