Poliphilus receives the crown and palm-branch, fixed upon a sword, from the hand of another matron, of large frame and severe mien (fol. i recto) 1499

Editor: Here we have an anonymous engraving titled "Poliphilus receives the crown and palm-branch, fixed upon a sword, from the hand of another matron, of large frame and severe mien." It feels like a very staged scene. What's the story being told here? Curator: This image, likely a book illustration, presents a fascinating intersection of power and gender. Notice the matron's severe mien, juxtaposed with the phallic symbol of the sword. Might this image be challenging conventional notions of female virtue and agency? Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way. So, the matron, instead of being submissive, is actually wielding power? Curator: Precisely! Consider how the group of women in the background observe this exchange. Does their presence act as a silent chorus, perhaps endorsing or questioning this transfer of power? Editor: It's interesting to view this image through the lens of gender dynamics. It’s more subversive than I initially thought. Curator: Exactly. By analyzing the visual language of this print, we can begin to unpack its complex socio-political commentary.