German Joust of Peace c. 1512 - 1515

Curator: Look at this remarkable drawing, "German Joust of Peace," dating from around 1512 to 1515. Although anonymous, it offers such insight into the period. It is rendered in watercolour, with coloured pencil details too. Editor: My first impression is how delicately these materials have been used. Given the subject—armored knights jousting—you might expect something bolder. Curator: Indeed. Yet consider the symbolism of a "Joust of Peace." It suggests ritual, performance, a carefully structured event intended to display prowess without necessarily resulting in harm. Editor: Which the medium reinforces! Watercolors allow for subtlety that speaks to careful craft. Note how the rendering of the armor emphasizes the metalworker's skill - that reflective gleam wasn't achieved easily. These tournaments provided valuable business to local artisans who specialized in armoury. Curator: Exactly! The colours also resonate. We see blues and reds decorating the horses. The motifs have clear symbolic weight as we consider chivalry and perhaps also a reference to specific houses or allegiances? Editor: Agreed. Also, look at the process again. How does layering of watercolor create depth? Or affect our interpretation of social status and display. The artist wanted us to admire that kind of making. Curator: The careful application does imbue these figures with a certain gravity. Although the identity of this artist is a mystery to us today, this rendering acts as a beautiful symbolic record. Editor: Thinking about the creation of this artwork gives you something to think about!