A city under siege with elephants and soldiers throughout; Mars looking down from above; set design from 'Il Pomo D'Oro' 1668

Editor: So, this print by Mathäus Küsel from 1668, called "A city under siege with elephants and soldiers throughout; Mars looking down from above; set design from 'Il Pomo D'Oro'," is really striking. It's like stepping into a chaotic dream. All those tiny figures, the elephants... and then this figure floating above. What’s your take? Curator: For me, this image speaks to the Baroque fascination with spectacle. The scene teems with movement, a controlled frenzy, don't you think? I see it almost as a stage, not just *of* war, but *for* war, designed to elicit a potent emotional response. Look at Mars floating above, he is more like a stage manager than a god of war. What kind of story might this moment be a part of, do you think? Editor: A heroic one, perhaps? The way the attackers are swarming, the elephants leading the charge... it feels epic! Though I am wondering, if it’s a set design, shouldn’t it emphasize perspective a bit more, guiding our eye? It almost feels… flat. Curator: Aha! Flatness itself was sometimes part of the Baroque aesthetic – an attempt to create an all-encompassing, almost overwhelming experience for the viewer, rather than a clear focal point. It suggests, playfully, that the 'reality' is just on the surface of things. And there’s always a question hovering, isn’t there? Editor: I suppose so. It makes it less about individual heroism and more about the overwhelming force of… spectacle, like you said. Now I see that this image is more playful and intriguing than a history scene! Curator: Exactly. It whispers that behind all the grand gestures and heroic poses, it might just be… a show. A beautiful, captivating show.