Jupiter c. 1600

Curator: This is a print entitled "Jupiter" by Crispijn de Passe the Elder, who was active in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. It's part of a larger series. What are your initial thoughts? Editor: Whoa, intense! It feels so dramatic and a little unsettling. That Jupiter figure looks both powerful and menacing, riding above what appears to be the Tower of Babel. Curator: It's interesting you say menacing. De Passe’s prints often explore the power dynamics of classical mythology and religious narratives within a fraught European context, rife with conflict. Jupiter here embodies divine authority, but also perhaps its potential for tyranny. Editor: Right! And the Tower of Babel below adds another layer. It's like a symbol of human ambition colliding with divine judgment. Is this commentary on colonialism, maybe? That insatiable, hubristic desire to build empires? Curator: Exactly! We can understand this piece as a reflection on the social and political tensions of the time, questioning power structures and human limitations. Editor: It's definitely stuck with me; seeing those layers of meaning really opened my eyes to how complex and relevant this older piece still is. Curator: Yes, seeing it through that lens allows us to think critically about persistent power imbalances.