Book XXVI.4. Romans training light footmen {Tertiae Decadis Liber Sextus p. CXL}; Same woodcut used for Book XXX.29-30. Scipio and Hannibal meet in open spot for discussion {Tertiae Decadis Liber Decimus p. CLXXIX verso} 1493

Curator: This woodcut, titled "Book XXVI.4. Romans training light footmen," also served as the image for "Book XXX.29-30. Scipio and Hannibal meet in open spot." Notice the deliberate reuse. Editor: My first impression is one of starkness, of the black ink aggressively outlining every form; the scene feels almost theatrical in its simplicity. Curator: Indeed, the repetition of this image suggests a shared symbolic weight between Roman military preparation and the parley between Scipio and Hannibal—perhaps a commentary on diplomacy as another form of strategic maneuvering. Editor: It also makes me think about the economic realities of early printing. Reusing a block cuts down on labor and material costs; the image itself becomes a commodity. Curator: Yes, and the visual language—the horses, the trees—becomes a shorthand, instantly recognizable and laden with cultural meaning even beyond its immediate context. Editor: It makes you wonder about the skill of the block cutter, too, and how their labor shaped the reception of these classical texts. Curator: Absolutely. This image, so economical in its creation, speaks volumes about both military might and the power of shared visual motifs. Editor: A single block, multiple narratives, and countless implications!