Mock Joust of War with Fixed Shields c. 1512 - 1515

Curator: This drawing, "Mock Joust of War with Fixed Shields," dates from around 1512 to 1515 and is thought to be by an anonymous artist. It's rendered in watercolor and colored pencil, quite delicate. Editor: Wow, delicate but violent, right? My first impression is this stylized, almost cartoonish clash of knights is both absurd and slightly tragic. The colors are muted, but the action is pure slapstick. Curator: Indeed, the genre-painting quality combined with historical representation is intriguing. Mock jousts were performed in festive events as displays of pageantry, though their artistic representation served various social functions, representing a complex network of elite power. Editor: And yet there’s an underlying sadness in the absurdity of it all. All that armor, the grand steeds...for what? A tumble in the dirt. There is this wonderful use of line here. Simple, minimal... Curator: Consider also the use of figuration here and the way the artist conveys movement. The fallen knight's awkward position juxtaposed with the stationary, almost proud stance of the victor create an interesting narrative, particularly when this narrative exists alongside contemporaneous forms of religious representation. Editor: Exactly, and the muted palette gives it a timeless feel, even though it depicts a very specific historical moment. You can imagine a courtier sketching this scene. Curator: Or perhaps being lampooned by it. "Genre-painting" is particularly relevant when discussing an artwork of this sort because it represents not only a form of illustration, but an opportunity for reflection for those whom it may depict. This speaks to the sociopolitical context of art’s role within this time. Editor: It does, doesn’t it? It invites you to laugh, sure, but also to consider the inherent fragility and spectacle that accompany human affairs. Maybe that’s the point. Curator: Perhaps. Certainly, artworks such as "Mock Joust of War with Fixed Shields" serve as poignant reminders that the games people play--in this case, knights engaged in performative battle—often belie profound issues of human existence, status, and competition. Editor: Makes you wonder, what game are *we* playing, huh? Alright, let's move on.