Canto XVI. The Fifth Sphere: Mars / The Warriors of God; Cacciaguida on Vaingloary of Noble Lineagoe and Illustrious Families of Florence c. 15th century

Curator: This image appears to be a page from an early printed edition of Dante's *Paradiso*, Canto XVI. I'm struck by how the woodcut illustration attempts to visualize abstract concepts like divine lineage and earthly glory. What's your initial take? Editor: It feels very medieval to me, with the blocky figures and crowded composition. I'm also curious about the symbols like the stars and the city in the background. What’s the context here, and how does it relate to the text? Curator: This canto is intensely focused on Florentine identity, lineage, and the corruption of noble families. Consider how the artist uses the city as a visual representation of a specific, and in Dante's view, decaying social order. Does the artwork affirm or critique these social structures? Editor: It seems critical, considering everything is printed in black and white, and the style of the artist! I guess I hadn't thought about how art could be about more than just what it looks like. Curator: Exactly. The artist uses the image to engage in a visual debate about identity, value, and the very foundations of Florentine society. Seeing this work has reminded me of art's power to subvert expectations.