Illustration L: the 3rd figure: the opening of the first four seals unleashes the four horsemen of the Apocalypse (Revelation 6: 1-8). c. 16th century

Curator: This woodcut, titled "Illustration L: the 3rd figure: the opening of the first four seals unleashes the four horsemen of the Apocalypse," now residing at the Harvard Art Museums, offers a glimpse into apocalyptic anxieties. Editor: Gosh, it looks like chaos bursting from a matchbox. All those frenzied lines, you can almost hear the thunder of hooves and the terrified screams! Curator: Indeed. The dramatic use of line, typical of woodcuts, would have been relatively inexpensive and easily reproduced, allowing for wide dissemination of this potent imagery of divine judgment and social upheaval. Editor: It's like, the artist is saying, "Hey, remember how fragile everything is? One bad day, and it all goes to hell in a handbasket!" It really makes you appreciate a quiet afternoon. Curator: Exactly, it reminds us about the cultural and economic conditions that made this art form possible. Editor: I can feel how raw, how urgent the message must have been. It's a potent visual experience! Curator: A powerful reminder of the social function of art. Editor: Yes, totally!