German Joust of Peace c. 1512 - 1515

Editor: This piece is "German Joust of Peace," a watercolor and colored pencil drawing from around 1512 to 1515, made by an anonymous artist. The figures are so rigid, and yet the watercolor gives it this dreamlike quality... It's quite striking! What stands out to you the most? Curator: Ah, yes, striking indeed! It’s as if the artist captured a suspended moment of both grandeur and awkwardness. Imagine yourself transported back to the Renaissance, when such jousts weren't just sport, they were performative politics. You see the static figures and the formal composition, but notice how the colour bleeds a bit... it’s a dance between control and looseness. Editor: I didn't quite pick up on the political angle. Curator: Absolutely! The armor, the heraldry – it’s all carefully designed to communicate power and status. The "peace" element adds a layer, doesn’t it? It's this aspiration, almost a wishful projection of harmony amid competition, visualised through clashing forms. Think of it as a medieval political cartoon, full of irony. Doesn't it make you question, what does "peace" truly mean when displayed with such overt display? Editor: I suppose I always thought of jousts as being inherently violent. I never considered the message it was sending through its artistry. Curator: See, there you have it! Art is tricky because it is so beautiful! But don’t get fooled. It’s also like history. When was the last time history was beautiful? If we could see that everything tells its own kind of narrative, everything changes. Editor: This really reframes how I look at historical artworks now. Thanks so much! Curator: My pleasure. Just always remember to look twice! You’d be amazed by what you find out.