Wapentrofee 1746 - 1807

Editor: We’re looking at Augustin de Saint-Aubin’s “Wapentrofee,” created sometime between 1746 and 1807. It's a meticulously detailed print that seems to shout "power," but also, a bit ironically, perhaps "dusty history." All those shields, spears and wolf heads... it feels like a closet crammed full of forgotten conquests! What do you make of it? Curator: Oh, I love that “dusty history” feel! It's not just showing power, it's evoking a specific ideal of power that *was* fading even then. Saint-Aubin is, in a way, holding up a mirror to the Baroque obsession with grandiose display, maybe even poking a little fun. Do you see how everything is so deliberately arranged? It's almost too perfect, which, to me, hints at satire. Editor: Satire? Really? I hadn’t considered that. I was too busy counting the weaponry. Curator: Well, think about it. The Baroque style, at its heart, is about creating an illusion of effortless wealth and might. But illusions always have cracks, don't they? This print, with all its over-the-top symbolism, shows those cracks beautifully. And maybe... just maybe... a knowing wink from the artist. Like, "Aren't we all a bit ridiculous in our displays of power?" Editor: I can see that! It's like he’s saying, "Look how many symbols I can cram into one trophy!" Okay, I’m completely rethinking the wolf heads. I assumed they were signs of ferocity. Curator: And they still can be. But are they really roaring, or are they frozen mid-snarl, stuffed and mounted for display? See, even ferocity becomes decoration. What a world! Editor: So it's less about glorifying war and more about commenting on the *idea* of glory? I like that a lot better. I might need to write a completely new intro now... Curator: Perfect! Art's always a journey of discovery, isn’t it? A single artwork can be re-interpreted through different lenses to show varied significances and representations, all adding up to enrich human perception of that art piece!