Book V.34. Bellovesus sets off to make new settlements {Primae Decadis Liber Quintus p. L} 1493

Curator: This anonymous print, titled "Book V.34. Bellovesus sets off to make new settlements," depicts a scene of migration and new beginnings. Editor: It's striking how the artist uses such simple lines to convey a sense of movement, almost like a stage play frozen in a single frame. Curator: Right. The print is an illustration from a book, likely intended to visually narrate a historical text and disseminate classical knowledge. Woodcuts like this made texts more accessible. Editor: I can't help but wonder about the stories of the un-named people in the image, the women and children, the everyday lives disrupted and reconstructed through this act of “settlement.” Curator: That's a crucial perspective. The act of "settling" often masks the displacement and erasures of previous inhabitants, a point worth considering. Editor: Exactly, it invites us to think critically about who benefits from these narratives of progress and expansion. Curator: Indeed, it reflects how historical narratives can be both informative and politically charged. Editor: It reminds us that even seemingly simple images carry complex ideological weight.