Allegory of Discord 1670

Editor: This is Melchior Küsel's "Allegory of Discord," an engraving on a sheet of paper. It feels chaotic, with figures fighting and a central figure stirring up trouble. What historical context might be influencing this piece? Curator: This piece resonates with the social anxieties of its time. Discord, often personified as a woman, becomes a tool. What societal structures might Küsel be critiquing by depicting discord as actively destabilizing harmony? Editor: So, it's less about simple chaos and more about how power uses discord to maintain itself? Curator: Precisely! Consider how anxieties around social hierarchy or religious conflict might be visualized in this way. What does this allegory tell us about the artist's concerns? Editor: I see it now, the image isn’t just about fighting, it's a commentary on the deliberate sowing of division. Curator: Exactly! It encourages us to question who benefits from discord and what systems are upheld by it.