Book XXII.33. Twenty-five slaves are crucified for having formed a conspiracy in the field of Mars {Tertiae Decadis Liber Secundus p. CVIII} 1493

Curator: This anonymous print, "Book XXII.33" from the Harvard Art Museums, is a stark visual. My first impression is the sheer brutality; it's a crude, graphic depiction. Editor: Crude, yes, but the medium itself speaks volumes. The stark lines of the woodcut, its very replicability, hints at the normalization of such violence in the social fabric. Curator: Absolutely. The crucifixion scene carries loaded symbolism, of course. But the anonymous nature of the piece also makes you wonder about the artist's intent, their relationship to this violence. Editor: And what kind of labor went into producing this? Consider the wood carver, their own position in the social hierarchy as they meticulously rendered these scenes of power and subjugation. Curator: It's a chilling reminder of the narratives we inherit and how they shape our understanding of justice and power. Editor: Exactly. It's not just about what's depicted, but the means by which this image became part of the collective consciousness.