Manius Acilius Glabrios triumftog i Rom 1574

Tobias Stimmer’s woodcut print, "Manius Acilius Glabrio's Triumph in Rome," invites us to consider the spectacle of power and victory in the late 16th century. Stimmer, a Swiss artist, was working in a period marked by religious upheaval and social change. His detailed rendering of a Roman triumph reflects a fascination with classical antiquity, a hallmark of the Renaissance, but also presents a critical lens through which to view contemporary displays of authority. The print depicts Manius Acilius Glabrio, a Roman general, parading through the city in a chariot, surrounded by soldiers and onlookers. The scene is filled with a sense of grandeur and celebration. Yet, we might also ask: who is excluded from this triumphant moment? What about the defeated, the enslaved, or the marginalized? The artist compels us to question the narratives of power, urging us to recognize the human cost often concealed beneath the veneer of glory. As you contemplate this image, consider how such representations both shape and reflect societal values, inviting us to engage with history not as a fixed narrative, but as a complex tapestry of perspectives and experiences.