Festa della Sensa (vijfde gedeelte) 1679

Curator: I am struck by the energy conveyed in this engraving, created around 1679 by Jost Amman, titled "Festa della Sensa (vijfde gedeelte)." The cityscape almost vibrates. Editor: Yes, a sense of civic pride definitely emanates. This Venetian scene teems with figures, all meticulously rendered through the engraving. Look at that allegorical lion. How does it function within this display of power? Curator: It’s an interesting symbolic counterpoint. Note how the lion and the female figure floating on clouds loom over the terrestrial scene. They serve as Venice's divine sanction for its worldly authority. The lion, the symbol of St. Mark, blends Christian iconography with the city’s own aspirations. Editor: Agreed. But what of those who were not a part of the city's elite power structure? Can we look past the immediate impression of pomp and circumstance and see potential exclusions, absences, or acts of resistance? The careful linework romanticizes Venetian society. Curator: True, such grand civic displays always contain embedded hierarchies, even though they seek to represent a unified identity. And, indeed, this image could be perceived as propagating that dominance. I believe Amman uses visual language to bolster the idea of Venice's eternal power. What resonates most for me, though, is that this engraving showcases the symbolic relationship between Venice's earthly power and celestial claim. Editor: The interplay of those spaces feels incredibly staged to ensure the elites and powerful were glorified and put on display. How does the artist play into these potentially harmful practices? Curator: I think Jost Amman as an artist of his era would have been deeply connected to these belief systems in Venice's cultural narrative. But, reflecting on this piece now with an alternative mindset certainly exposes other truths we weren't acknowledging moments ago. Editor: Precisely. And now, leaving with more awareness and informed critiques than before makes us stronger in deciphering such artwork and its meaning in current times.