German Joust of Peace c. 1512 - 1515

Curator: This fascinating watercolor drawing, dating from around 1512 to 1515, is titled "German Joust of Peace". It's an anonymous work that offers us a glimpse into the world of medieval tournaments. Editor: My first thought is that the term "peace" feels ironic considering the riders look like they’re about to be unhorsed! It’s all very dynamic. The red garments against the white and green give a stark contrast, especially with what seems to be a splatter of red, potentially indicating violence. Curator: Precisely! It highlights the performative nature of peace in this era. The artwork depicts a genre scene, yet history is written into every detail of the subject and attire. Think about the sociopolitical power such events held and who was able to participate in or observe. Editor: That’s interesting. From a modern perspective, what seems like a simple record of a historical event reveals deeper power structures. Did these jousts contribute to any significant social shifts at the time? It would be nice to learn of a woman knight that could give us her experience, how these spectacles functioned as a form of gendered expression, or perhaps social control. Curator: These events functioned as displays of prowess and courtly love, cementing social hierarchies but also subtly shaping identities and cultural values, in turn influencing the visual language and rhetoric used at the time, to project authority, legitimate their reign. The artist even captured what appears to be, a note or signature at the bottom of the painting. Editor: That's something for me to read into later! Even just observing the artist's deliberate choices, the vividness of the colors, for instance, it underscores the grand nature of the event for audiences that may be watching centuries after its creation. I see this watercolor revealing as much about performative social and gender norms as it does a joust! Curator: I completely agree! This image serves as a powerful reminder that art can be a window into the past and also a mirror reflecting contemporary social issues, constantly informing discussions on power, performance, and social order. Editor: Thanks, I will definitely consider the history as a social practice, one that’s steeped in cultural context and intersectionality in the future.