Job XV c. 16th century

Curator: Editor: Hans Holbein the Younger’s "Job XV" is a stark woodcut print. The rough texture of the lines gives it an almost unsettling feel. What do you notice about the material aspects of this work? Curator: The stark contrast created by the woodcut highlights a tension between the suffering of Job and the relative comfort of his visitors. Consider the labor involved in producing multiple copies. Who was the intended audience, and how might the print medium have impacted their understanding of the story? Editor: That's interesting! I hadn’t thought about the process of reproduction and its impact on accessibility. Curator: Exactly. And look at the material—wood—a common resource, made to depict uncommon suffering. How does that choice of material itself contribute to the narrative? Editor: I see what you mean. The very means of production adds another layer to the story. Curator: Precisely. Considering the material and its context really deepens our understanding.