Tail-piece c. 16th century

Curator: This is a “Tail-piece,” an anonymous work held in the Harvard Art Museums. It is a black ink print on paper. Editor: My first impression is one of grotesque ornamentation. The central figure appears to be screaming, flanked by winged creatures. Curator: Tail-pieces like this served to mark the end of chapters or sections in printed books, a visual punctuation. It's fascinating how even anonymous works reflect the culture and publishing practices of their time. Editor: Absolutely, and the imagery is loaded. The screaming face is reminiscent of masks used in theatre, conveying intense emotion, but also a sense of artifice. The winged figures might represent putti, but with a strange, unsettling twist. Curator: These images often referenced prevailing iconographic traditions, but were also adapted for commercial purposes. So this piece exists somewhere between artistic expression and functional design. Editor: It is a striking example of how potent symbols can be even when divorced from a specific, attributed artistic vision. Curator: Indeed, anonymous works like this can tell us so much about the visual language of the period. Editor: A fascinating convergence of the functional and the symbolic, demanding a closer look.