Trojan's Victory over the Dacians c. 16th century

Curator: This etching by Pietro Santi Bartoli, titled "Trojan's Victory over the Dacians," presents a chaotic yet controlled vision of Roman triumph. The work is currently held in the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: There's a dense quality to it, a result of the etching process I imagine. But it is also a narrative choice, isn't it? I am sensing a kind of visual overload. Curator: Absolutely. The etching technique, with its precise lines, serves to emphasize the intricate details of armor, the expressions of the figures, and the overall sense of movement. The figures tell of power, civilization, and conquest. Editor: I wonder about the labor involved. The sheer number of lines etched into the plate! But beyond that, what about the social conditions? I see a visual representation of power—Roman dominance rendered in a medium accessible to a wider audience. Curator: It echoes the visual language of Roman power while also participating in the print culture of its own time. The image certainly carries centuries of loaded symbolism related to empire, victory, and subjugation. Editor: Considering it all, I'm left thinking about how materials, in this case ink and paper, become tools for reinforcing narratives of dominance through careful craft. Curator: And I see how the symbolism embedded in this print resonates across history, reminding us how visual culture both reflects and shapes our understanding of power dynamics.