The Mariner c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have "The Mariner" by Hans Holbein the Younger, held at the Harvard Art Museums. The choppy lines really convey the violence of the sea, don't they? What do you notice about the composition? Curator: The density of line work is certainly striking. Notice how Holbein uses hatching and cross-hatching to create tonal variation and suggest depth, especially in the rendering of the waves. The dynamism of the lines almost overwhelms the figures, wouldn't you agree? Editor: That's a great point! I hadn't considered how the lines create a sense of chaos that nearly obscures the figures. I wonder why he chose to do that? Curator: Perhaps to emphasize the vulnerability of humanity against the power of nature. The formal elements speak to a larger theme of existential uncertainty. Editor: That's fascinating. I will definitely look more closely at the lines in other works from this period.