Illustration LVII c. 16th century

Curator: This anonymous woodcut, titled "Illustration LVII", presents a brutal boxing match, complete with onlookers and even a severed head on the ground. Editor: My immediate reaction is how this image captures the performative aspects of violence in society, almost theatrical. Curator: Indeed. Boxing matches, like this one, historically served as ritual displays of power. The names on the banners–Aeneas, Ascanius–suggest a connection to classical ideals of heroism and strength. Editor: Yet, the presence of the severed head complicates this ideal. It speaks to the very real consequences of violence, revealing its destructive potential. Curator: I see it also as a symbolic castration of the old order, a sacrifice to ensure the new hero's triumph. Editor: Perhaps both. It reminds me of the ways in which violence is often sanitized or glorified, obscuring the lived realities of those impacted. It's a stark reminder of power's capacity for destruction. Curator: It does invite a strong reaction to the violence shown. Editor: It certainly does make one think about historical and present-day implications.