Two Grotesques, the Left with Crossed Tridents, the Right with Peacocks 1562

Curator: This intriguing sheet, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums, is titled "Two Grotesques, the Left with Crossed Tridents, the Right with Peacocks," etched by Jacques Androuet Du Cerceau. Editor: Immediately, I’m struck by the rigid duality and the almost obsessive symmetry of the designs. The stark contrast between the figures is quite pronounced. Curator: The grotesques tap into a rich tradition of visual symbolism, drawing on classical motifs to convey power and abundance. The tridents and peacocks speak to those themes. Editor: I see that, but I’m also considering the power dynamics implicit in such displays. Who commissioned these designs and what message were they intending to project through these images? Curator: It's worth considering that Du Cerceau may have been creating designs to be used by others. His drawings showcase how classical motifs continued to resonate during the Renaissance. Editor: True, and yet reflecting on how social hierarchy is reinforced through symbolic display is central to understanding their resonance. The grotesques become reflections of power itself. Curator: Agreed, the image invites us to explore the layered meanings of these symbols. Editor: Yes, and how those meanings are inevitably colored by the social forces that shaped them.