Book XXXV.12 Lacedaemons and Nabis instigated to war by Aetolians {Quarte Decadis Liber Sextus p. CCXIIII} 1493

Curator: This anonymous woodcut, titled "Book XXXV.12 Lacedaemons and Nabis instigated to war by Aetolians," offers a glimpse into historical narratives. Editor: My first impression is one of rigid confinement. The sharp lines of the fortifications contrast starkly with the figures within. It evokes a sense of societal constraint, doesn’t it? Curator: Indeed. Looking at the women gathered, one can't ignore the patriarchal structures that likely shaped their lives and this historical moment. The print seems to highlight the ways in which women's bodies and voices have been historically confined. Editor: And the symbolic weight of the walled city, repeated forms that box them in. The artist has captured an enduring tension between protection and imprisonment. Curator: It’s a complex interplay, reflecting the ongoing negotiation of power and visibility within societal structures. Editor: It certainly prompts reflection on how we perpetuate, or dismantle, those structures today.