Book X.23. Virginia, daugher of Aulus, excluded from sharing in sacred rites {Primae Decadis Liber Decimus p. LXXXVIII} 1493

Editor: So this woodcut, Book X.23, by an anonymous artist, depicts Virginia being excluded from sacred rites. It feels… stark, almost severe. The buildings loom, the women seem trapped. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a refusal, a profound social shunning etched in simple lines. Imagine the weight of that gesture, the denial of belonging. It's fascinating how the artist uses architecture to amplify Virginia's isolation, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Definitely. It’s as if the buildings themselves are participating in her exclusion. Curator: Precisely! What do you make of their expressions? Do you read resignation, defiance, or something else entirely? Editor: Maybe a mix? A kind of weary acceptance, but also a hint of… well, maybe hope is too strong a word. Determination, perhaps? Curator: I love that – determination. This image, stripped bare, leaves room for us to project our own hopes and anxieties, doesn't it? Editor: I hadn’t thought of it that way, but you’re right. It makes it feel much more personal. Curator: Exactly, it is like holding a mirror!