Italian Joust of Peace c. 1512 - 1515

This watercolor of a joust was made by an anonymous artist, at an unknown date. The artist uses traditional materials: paper, pigment, and brush. Yet look closely. The rendering is precise, almost technical. Every detail of the jousters' armor, their horses' trappings, and the shattered lances is clearly delineated. The attention suggests a careful understanding of the fabrication of these items, and the specific skills involved in their making. We might even imagine this image as a kind of record, intended to preserve knowledge of the craft behind jousting. Consider the social context. In its day, such knowledge was closely guarded, passed down through families and guilds. So, while the artwork may appear to be merely a depiction, it also represents an implicit negotiation of social boundaries: a glimpse into the world of specialized labor, mediated through the eye and hand of the artist. This reminds us to look beyond the surface, and consider the labor and knowledge embedded in every work of art.