Book XXIII.7. People of Capua go out to meet Hannibal {Tertiae Decadis Liber Tertius p. CXIII verso} 1493

Editor: This is an anonymous piece, "Book XXIII.7. People of Capua go out to meet Hannibal." It depicts a meeting, but the stiff figures and stark black lines give it a sense of unease. How do you interpret this scene, considering its historical context? Curator: This image freezes a moment of complex negotiation. The people of Capua, likely seeking protection, meet Hannibal. Consider the power dynamics. Who is centered? Who is at the margins? How does gender play into this staged performance of welcome and submission? Editor: That’s interesting. I hadn’t thought about the positioning of the women and children as potentially symbolic of vulnerability and supplication. Curator: Exactly. The print, while seemingly documenting an event, also participates in the construction of power, dependence, and historical narrative. It invites us to question whose story is being told, and how. Editor: I see it now! This artwork reveals the social structure of the time. Curator: Precisely, and that is what makes it so impactful, even today.