Rhetoric 16th-17th century

Curator: Johann Sadeler I created this engraving, “Rhetoric,” in the late 16th century. Look at the figure of Rhetoric herself, posed above the crowd! Editor: The dynamism is compelling; there’s an immediate sense of her power and command through her posture. It's all about the lines, the textures, the way the light falls. Curator: Exactly. Consider how rhetoric functioned then, deeply intertwined with patriarchal structures. This figure embodies authority, yet her accessibility is limited. Who did rhetoric serve? Editor: Note the balance achieved through the interplay of light and shadow, guiding our eye through the composition. The dog, the books, the scroll. It all works together. Curator: The caduceus speaks to peace, or perhaps commerce, but what does it mean when wielded by the figure of rhetoric? Does persuasive speech aim for harmony or transaction? Editor: The formal precision gives it such lasting force. Curator: Precisely, but we must ask, whose force?