Book V.29. Prosecution against Aulus Virginius and Quintus Pomponious, plebian tribunes {Primae Decadis Liber Quintus p. XLVIII} 1493

Editor: This woodcut, "Book V.29. Prosecution against Aulus Virginius and Quintus Pomponious, plebian tribunes," is interesting; it seems to show some sort of legal proceeding. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The image depicts a clear power dynamic. Note the seated figures, likely authority figures, elevated above the standing men. Who is being heard and who is doing the listening? Consider class and social structures being reinforced here. Editor: I see that, it almost feels staged to show that the seated men have more power than the standing men. Curator: Precisely. And remember, this image accompanied text. How might the text have reinforced or challenged this visual hierarchy? Whose story is being told, and whose is being silenced? Editor: That's a powerful point. I'll definitely look at this differently now, thinking about the power dynamics at play. Curator: Exactly, and visual artworks like this one need to be examined through those lenses.