Book XXX.38-40. Roman deputies return to Rome from Africa {Tertiae Decadis Liber Decimus p. CLXXXI verso} 1493

Curator: Look at this arresting woodcut, "Book XXX.38-40. Roman deputies return to Rome from Africa." Editor: It feels stark, almost like a dreamscape, yet so full of implied movement and texture. Curator: Considering the context of Roman deputies returning, the imagery speaks to the dynamics of power, especially within a colonial context. The reception by the figures on the right reads as almost confrontational. Editor: Hmm, perhaps. Or maybe they are intrigued by the spectacle of men riding on horseback—a symbol of authority? The artist leaves the interpretation open, like a dream indeed. It's this very ambiguity that gives it power. Curator: Precisely. And what that says about our own perceptions of historical events and their representation. Editor: It's all so angular, it makes me want to see what the artist would do with watercolors. Curator: Yes, a good point—different mediums shape different narratives, don't they? Editor: Makes you wonder about the story behind this image.