Domestic Strife c. 18th century

Curator: Gilles Demarteau’s print, known as Domestic Strife, captures a chaotic scene. What are your initial thoughts? Editor: Immediate chaos! It’s visceral. The dog looming over the cats, the discarded bundle in the corner, there’s a real sense of disruption. Curator: Demarteau situates the print within a historical context marked by evolving social dynamics, class struggles, and the changing roles of animals within domestic spaces. How does the imagery reflect those complexities? Editor: The dog, a symbol of order and loyalty, clashes with the feline, often associated with independence and untamed nature. That conflict embodies the tension between the desire for control and the inevitability of discord. Curator: Perhaps this piece is a microcosm of societal tensions writ small in the domestic sphere. Editor: Precisely! And viewing it through the lens of today's power dynamics offers a fresh interpretation of these enduring conflicts. I'm left contemplating the deeper symbolism embedded in these images.