Roman Seamen Battling a Sea Monster 1602

Editor: Antonio Tempesta’s "Roman Seamen Battling a Sea Monster" is a strikingly detailed scene. I am fascinated by how Tempesta used line work to create such a dynamic scene. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see the fascinating intersection of labor, spectacle, and consumption. The printmaking process itself, with its reliance on skilled artisans and the printing press, allowed for the mass production and dissemination of this dramatic scene. Editor: That's interesting! Curator: Consider the social context; prints like this were commodities, consumed by an audience eager for entertainment. The image also shows the labor of the seamen pitted against the monstrous Orca for the entertainment of the crowd. Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. Thank you for providing that perspective. Curator: Of course. It’s essential to consider the materials and the processes that shape what we see, and who gets to see it.