1 Chron. X c. 16th century

Editor: This is Hans Holbein the Younger's "1 Chron. X," currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. The stark, black-and-white contrasts are striking. What's your interpretation of this scene? Curator: It's crucial to look at Holbein’s technique – the woodcut. This method allowed for mass production and dissemination of imagery. Consider the social context: religious reformations were dependent on the accessibility of printed material. Editor: So, the medium itself played a vital role? Curator: Absolutely! Woodcuts democratized the image. It was about making these biblical stories accessible to a wider audience, influencing belief and power dynamics. This is about the means of production shaping cultural consumption. Editor: I see. It's not just the subject matter, but how it reached the public that truly matters. Curator: Precisely. The materiality of the image, its reproducibility, and the impact on social structures are all intertwined.