Winter. Cybele, Goddess of the Earth, Calls for the Return of the Sun c. 18th century

Editor: This print is "Winter. Cybele, Goddess of the Earth, Calls for the Return of the Sun," by Jean-Baptiste de Poilly. It feels like a plea for warmth. What kind of power dynamics are at play here? Curator: I see a powerful statement about the interconnectedness of humanity and nature, and about the impact of patriarchal celestial figures. Cybele, a maternal earth goddess, is forced to appeal to presumably male sun deities. Do you see this as a negotiation or a demand for environmental respect and balance? Editor: It seems like a demand. Maybe that's why it still resonates. Curator: Precisely. It highlights the ongoing struggle for marginalized voices to be heard in the face of dominant power structures. It encourages us to question who holds authority. Editor: I never thought about it that way. Thanks for helping me see the socio-political layers in this artwork.