Mock Joust of War with Flying and Exploding Shields c. 1512 - 1515

This drawing shows two knights engaged in a mock joust, rendered in ink on paper by an anonymous artist. Though undated, the style suggests it was made somewhere in Europe, perhaps Germany, during the late Middle Ages or early Renaissance. The joust, a martial sport often associated with aristocratic culture, is presented here with a degree of satirical exaggeration: shields are not merely struck but explode into fragments. The riders' costumes are elaborately patterned, and one wears a headdress adorned with flowers, further indicating the performative aspect of these martial events. Such images were often produced for a courtly audience with an interest in chivalric romance and knightly display. But what does it mean to show the mechanics of the combat so absurdly? To answer this question, the social historian would look at court records, popular literature, and other visual sources to understand the nature of the audience and the artist's critical stance. After all, artistic interpretation is only possible if we can understand the values and institutions that shaped its creation.