Three Soldiers with a Dog c. 16th century

Curator: This piece, housed at the Harvard Art Museums, is entitled "Three Soldiers with a Dog" by Sebald Beham, a German artist who lived from 1500 to 1550. The print is tiny, only 4.5 by 2 centimeters! Editor: Despite the scale, it feels monumental, doesn’t it? The cross-hatching gives the figures a real weight, a sense of brooding. I wonder what they are waiting for... Curator: Indeed. Beham was a "Little Master," so called for his small, intricate engravings. Notice the dog – a symbol, perhaps, of loyalty, but also of vulnerability alongside these armed men? Editor: It's fascinating how that single animal transforms the entire feeling; the dog softens their potential menace, suggesting perhaps protection rather than aggression. Curator: Ultimately, for me, that dynamic between vulnerability and force really holds. These tiny engravings open up such grand spaces for interpretation. Editor: Exactly. And that's the beauty of art, isn't it? A small piece sparking giant thoughts.