Book XXXII.19-20. Elatia shuts its gates to Romans, siege ensues {Quarte Decadis Liber Secundus p. CXCIII verso} 1493

Editor: This is an anonymous print, "Book XXXII.19-20. Elatia shuts its gates to Romans, siege ensues." The stark black and white really emphasizes the tension. What do you make of this piece? Curator: The roughness of the woodcut, the very physical act of carving, speaks to the labor involved in both creating the image and the societal context it represents: warfare, siege, power. The material itself points us to the means of production and the potential for wider consumption of such imagery. Editor: So, the printmaking process itself highlights the conflict portrayed? Curator: Precisely. The medium is the message, echoing the social and material struggles depicted. Editor: That's a really interesting way to look at it; I hadn’t considered the process so deeply before.