Battle of Constantine c. 16th century

Curator: Pietro Aquila, born in 1650, likely created this dramatic print, titled "Battle of Constantine," to evoke the intensity of the era. What strikes you first about this depiction? Editor: Utter chaos! There's a sense of overwhelming movement, like a snapshot from a fever dream of conflict. It feels almost performative. Curator: Indeed. Aquila uses the visual language of battle to convey not just conflict, but a symbolic transition. The bridge, figures clashing on water... What do you make of it? Editor: Water, definitely. Figures falling from boats—the chaos spilling over. It's a baptism of fire, maybe, or a cleansing? A dark one, at that. Curator: Constantine's battles were undeniably pivotal. This print suggests a deeper struggle—the clash between old beliefs and the rise of Christianity. It’s embedded in visual rhetoric. Editor: I see it. Like a turning point caught in ink, a beautiful mess of old and new crashing together. I like how Aquila conveys so much with the engraving. Curator: Aquila captures a brutal beauty. We are forced to reckon with how history is shaped not just by power, but by the stories we tell about it. Editor: Exactly! This image feels like a potent reminder that even in the heart of turmoil, something transformative is often taking root.