Cavalry of Barbarians; verso, black chalk: Profile of a Man 1675

Editor: This is "Cavalry of Barbarians" by Antoinette Bouzonnet-Stella. It's a dynamic print depicting a chaotic scene of mounted warriors, with a figure reclining in the foreground. The image feels violent, but also classical in its composition. What symbolic meanings might we find here? Curator: Note how the cavalry surges forward, contrasting with the reclining figure. This juxtaposition evokes the clash between the active, destructive force and the passive, perhaps defeated, civilization. Does the reclining figure remind you of any classical depictions? Editor: He reminds me of a river god. Is this a depiction of the triumph of barbarism over a more settled way of life? Curator: Possibly. The artist invites us to consider what symbols like horses, armor, and even the reclining figure meant in the collective memory of the time. Perhaps it also represents the fragility of civilization. Editor: It is a stark reminder that even the most powerful societies are vulnerable. Thanks for pointing out the symbolic nuances. Curator: Indeed. It’s fascinating how a single image can carry so much cultural weight across centuries.