Proserpina, from 'Game of Mythology' (Jeu de la Mythologie) 1644

Editor: So, here we have Stefano della Bella’s "Proserpina, from 'Game of Mythology,'" an etching and print from 1644. There's such frenetic energy; you can practically feel the movement of the horses. What story do you think the artist is trying to tell? Curator: This piece throws light on how mythology was reimagined during the Baroque period and weaponized by power. It’s not simply about depicting a mythological scene. Ask yourself, why Proserpina? Why this violent abduction scene? Della Bella was working in a time of immense social and political upheaval, embedded as he was in court culture. Editor: You're saying it's more than just an illustration. But how can we interpret this scene as connected to, say, the politics of gender? Curator: Look at the composition: a male figure forcefully taking a female figure, seemingly against her will, down into a dark and stormy abyss. What could this symbolize about the subjugation of women, about power imbalances reinforced through narratives? Even seemingly harmless ‘games’ reflect ideologies. The etching serves as a microcosm of patriarchal structures at play, reflecting gender roles that permeate society. And how class intersects, considering for whom was this imagery being made for. Who did mythology serve? Editor: I never really thought about the male gaze operating even back then, informing whose stories are being told and how. And how that relates to power. Curator: Precisely! Recognizing these power dynamics woven into the very fabric of art history lets us actively challenge them and create space for more diverse and inclusive narratives in our contemporary art world. It requires vigilance, not just passive appreciation. Editor: That's definitely a new lens through which to view historical artwork. Thank you for expanding my perspective!