Italian Joust of Peace c. 1512 - 1515

Editor: This watercolor and colored-pencil drawing, titled "Italian Joust of Peace," dates back to the early 16th century. The vibrant reds and greens are arresting, yet the overall impression is one of collapse and stillness. What do you see when you examine its composition? Curator: I'm immediately drawn to the arrangement of forms within the defined picture plane. Note how the artist employs a stark horizontal division, a visual barrier emphasizing the fragmented scene below. Consider the use of line and colour to create tension. Is this fracturing of the subject not quite deliberate? Editor: It does seem carefully arranged. The fallen knight, the broken lance… It's not just a simple depiction of a jousting accident. What are your thoughts on the artist’s choice to flatten the picture plane instead of employing perspective? Curator: The flattening serves to heighten the symbolic weight of the image. By removing depth, we are forced to confront the juxtaposition of vibrant colours with the disordered forms of defeat. Note how the textural differences between the watercolor washes and the sharper coloured-pencil lines emphasize certain elements. Do you perceive a narrative being constructed solely through these formal qualities? Editor: It's less a narrative, more a…statement, perhaps? An arrangement of shapes, colours and lines meant to evoke a specific feeling. The chaos on the bottom is separated and almost suspended over a background. I’m beginning to see how powerful the composition can be. Curator: Precisely. By focusing on the internal relationships within the artwork, we begin to unravel its complex statement, separate from a historical record, and see the tension that gives it life. Editor: I now appreciate that analyzing solely visual elements can reveal a powerful underlying meaning within artwork. Curator: Indeed, by attending to these qualities of line, plane and colour, we begin to unearth its core.