Canto XVIII. The Fourth Cornice / The Slothful; Abbot of San Zeno c. 15th century

Curator: We’re looking at an early printed page, titled "Canto XVIII. The Fourth Cornice / The Slothful; Abbot of San Zeno." It is an anonymous woodcut illustration, currently housed at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It’s intense! The tightly packed text is only broken up by an energetic scene of tiny figures pushing forward. It feels incredibly busy, almost suffocating, and not very slothful at all! Curator: It is interesting to think about the labor involved in producing these early printed books, from the hand-cut blocks to the manual printing process. The contrast between the subject of sloth and the industriousness of the artwork’s creation is quite striking. Editor: Yes, you’re right. I was initially focusing on the image, but understanding the context of its production shifts my perspective. Seeing the human effort makes the image less oppressive and more about human endurance or even perseverance. Curator: It reveals how the act of creation stands against the vice it depicts. Editor: I agree. Thinking about materiality has really transformed my understanding of the piece.