Cipus with his Horns 1606

Editor: This etching by Antonio Tempesta, called Cipus with his Horns, shows a man discovering he has horns. It's quite small, but very detailed. What's your interpretation of it? Curator: It's interesting to consider this through the lens of power and otherness. Cipus's horns signify a divergence from the norm. What does it mean when the body betrays societal expectations, particularly for a Roman figure? Editor: So, it's a commentary on the anxiety around leadership and what constitutes a 'monster'? Curator: Precisely. It reflects the fear of the leader as "other," someone who might disrupt the established order. The story is about resisting tyranny, even when that tyranny might be you. What do you make of the city in the background? Editor: It looks like a traditional fortress, a symbol of establishment. Cipus is turning his back to it. Curator: Exactly. It's interesting how this print highlights the individual's struggle against the collective, choosing exile rather than forced leadership. Editor: I see. It's about choosing to remain 'other' instead of imposing that otherness on everyone else. Curator: Indeed. It makes you consider how much our perceptions of power are tied to ideas of normalcy and conformity.