Mock Joust of War with Flying Shields c. 1512 - 1515

This sheet, whose maker is unknown, depicts a ‘Mock Joust of War’ in watercolor and ink. The artist used thin washes of pigment to create the illusion of depth and movement, seen especially in the fanciful figures of the combatants. The materiality of paper lends itself to this kind of delicate work. The subject matter—a tournament—is clearly intended to evoke the world of aristocracy and leisure, but the quick, confident lines suggest an artist more accustomed to the speed of design work than the slow layering of academic painting. The artist shows us a snapshot of social life, and in the handling of the watercolor, we get a glimpse of the artist’s own position, straddling the worlds of craft production and fine art.