Charles neuf.-e / Bon Prince..., from 'Game of the Kings of France' (Jeu des Rois de France) 1644

Editor: We’re looking at "Charles neuf.-e / Bon Prince..., from 'Game of the Kings of France'," an engraving by Stefano della Bella, from 1644. It's deceptively simple, almost like a playing card, but something about that figure, standing alone with that text below, feels…significant. What do you see in it? Curator: You know, it feels to me like peering into a moment where playful design bumps up against the weighty stuff of history. Della Bella's figure, Charles IX, is elegantly rendered, but the inscription hints at a king whose reign sparked religious wars – not so “bon” after all. Makes you wonder about the games people played, right? The ironies they might have noticed then…or chose to ignore. Editor: A game of kings with a potentially flawed player. But the game format suggests it was made to be played and understood. How was this “history” perceived, do you think? Curator: Perception is key. These ‘games’ were clever ways of disseminating political ideas and historical narratives. Instead of dull history books, folks were handling miniature dramas, casually internalizing propaganda, or subversive critique – who knows? You’ve got to think about it almost as early political cartoons, wrapped in a package of harmless amusement. Think about the images you consume every day...how will they be viewed 400 years from now? Editor: So, entertainment with an agenda. This is far more nuanced than I originally thought. I’m beginning to understand that every piece has a narrative behind its apparent simple presentation. Curator: Exactly. And the real fun is teasing out those narratives – the stories within the stories. Perhaps more fun than any "game of Kings".