Book XXII.57. Lucius Cantilius scourged in the Forum for debauching Floronia {Tertiae Decadis Liber Secundus p. CXI verso} 1493

Editor: This anonymous woodcut, titled "Book XXII.57. Lucius Cantilius scourged in the Forum for debauching Floronia," depicts a brutal public punishment. What strikes me is the stark contrast between the men observing and the woman's vulnerability. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a blatant display of patriarchal power and control. The image, though historical, resonates disturbingly with contemporary issues of gender-based violence and the public shaming of women. How does this image speak to ongoing power imbalances, do you think? Editor: I hadn't considered that so directly. It makes me think about how these historical depictions normalize such violence. Perhaps that's its most insidious legacy. Curator: Exactly. By examining its historical context, we can also recognize and challenge those same power dynamics in our present. Editor: That makes it even more relevant. I'll never look at historical images the same way again. Curator: Nor should you. Art is never just about the past.