A man and two women conversing at center; young men standing to their right and young women to their left; ships in the distance; set design from 'Il Pomo D'Oro' 1668

Mathäus Küsel created this etching, a set design from the opera 'Il Pomo D'Oro', sometime in the 17th century. Courtly operas like this one weren't just entertainment; they were potent displays of power and cultural sophistication for the aristocracy. Look at how Küsel stages the figures. The central figures, likely nobles or gods, are framed by an elaborate scene filled with ships and classical ruins, flanked by rows of younger men and women. Consider the role of women at the time. Often confined to the domestic sphere, aristocratic women could gain visibility and influence through the arts, as patrons or performers. Yet, their representation was often dictated by men. The ships in the distance remind us of maritime trade, and the opera itself, staged for the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I, was likely a spectacle meant to awe foreign dignitaries. How does this scene make you feel? Does it evoke a sense of grandeur, or does it feel artificial?