Vita Aesopi 1492

Editor: Here we have a page from "Vita Aesopi," dated 1492, currently residing at The Met. It’s a woodcut print depicting scenes from the life of Aesop, and it strikes me as so formally rigid but at the same time playful – all those little details. What stories do you think it whispers? Curator: Whispers indeed! I see a visual compendium, a medieval storyboard of sorts. Look at how the artist divides the page, framing different episodes. It reminds me of illuminated manuscripts – a blend of text and image designed to educate and entertain. Imagine the audience, likely quite literate, deciphering these vignettes like secret codes. Notice the central scene – Aesop holding court, dispensing wisdom. Perhaps this scene showcases him rendering one of his many fables? How might this impact our understanding of what he contributes to literature? Editor: Oh, so it's not just decorative, but almost a user interface? Is that what made these prints so popular? The top panel seems less controlled than Aesop's central scene – are these his actual stories? Curator: I love "user interface!" Spot on. The multiple scenes point to exactly that. Yes, the chaotic energy up top contrasts with the structured courtroom below. Is it illustrating some of the more boisterous themes present in Aesop’s stories? What fables come to mind when you gaze upon that frenetic energy? And about popularity: these prints made knowledge portable, accessible beyond the elite, just like podcasts do today! Editor: I guess I hadn’t considered the impact of printmaking in that way before – making knowledge so democratic and accessible. It almost makes Aesop the Ancient World’s podcaster! Thanks for sharing your view! Curator: My pleasure! Now you’ve got me dreaming of illuminated tweets and TikTok tapestries! Every generation finds its medium, right?