Contes et nouvelles de Bocace florentin : traduction libre, accommodée au gout de ce temps, & enrichie de figures en taille-douce gravées par Mr. Romain de Hooge 1697

Curator: Wow, it’s…intense. It radiates authority, almost intimidatingly. All that red! Editor: That’s "Contes et nouvelles de Bocace florentin", printed in 1697. More loosely translated, Tales and Novels of Boccaccio, from Florence. We are looking at an example from The Met collection. Curator: That title's a mouthful, but so is the cover! It's just…opulent. Gold leaf detailing dancing across this deeply textured red. Editor: Yes, there is a tension. It speaks of privilege, undoubtedly crafted for a readership that not only appreciated the tales themselves but also had the economic means to showcase them through elaborate material displays. Curator: I can smell it—that old book smell! And look at the texture. You just want to run your hand over that soft cover. Like a worn saddle. It’s sensuous! Editor: Precisely, but consider this: Boccaccio's *Decameron* already pushed boundaries when it was first published, critiquing the mores and hierarchies of its time. Curator: So, is the activist in you bothered by the extravagance masking some possible biting critiques? Editor: The book’s exterior speaks of acceptance by the very elites it could critique, it is intriguing. It prompts important conversations. This kind of object encourages critical examination of societal power dynamics and the role of art and literature within them. It feels like this lavish binding somewhat tames its disruptive force. Curator: And yet, the stories…maybe it’s about enticing the elites into questioning their own realities through beauty. Bait and switch! Get them with the pretty cover, hook them with the provocative content. Editor: It highlights how objects operate within social and political contexts—they’re never simply aesthetic experiences. It’s beautiful to reflect on the legacy and tension the exterior displays as it relates to the book’s content. Curator: Absolutely. And even a small object like this, really demonstrates that point. Every material choice, every embellishment…it's all part of the narrative. Editor: Every choice embodies meaning. Thank you for bringing it to life with fresh eyes.