Anger or the Tussle 1516

Curator: Here we have Dosso Dossi’s striking “Anger or the Tussle,” painted around 1516 using oil paint. What's your initial impression? Editor: Chaotic, isn't it? Like a bad dream. All these grimacing faces packed into this diamond shape. And what’s with the weird yellow cloth? Curator: The figures, rendered in that characteristic Mannerist style, are engaged in some sort of struggle. Notice how Dossi uses the dark background and selective illumination, a wonderful use of chiaroscuro. We need to consider the availability and price of materials for artists during the Italian Renaissance. Oil paint itself was becoming increasingly common... Editor: I get that it's "Anger", but there's something else, something theatrical. Like these are actors, hamming it up for the crowd, especially the figure at the far left with the slightly evil smirk. Look at the almost comic rendering of distress, the guy pulling his hair! Curator: Think about the societal context. Dossi was working in the court of Ferrara. Patronage shaped not just subject matter but the very means of production, so while they do feel very vivid to us it's important to keep that in mind. I think that considering the means of production in this portrait reveals how dependent and important the commissioning person was in these times. Editor: True, the power dynamics at play are definitely apparent. I wonder if Dossi felt a bit stifled? Or maybe, like a method actor, he really leaned into the emotions, projecting even into those bits of still life: the crumpled cloth and upturned glass... it almost reads like a personal narrative despite its universal message about anger. Curator: It's also vital we consider the labor. Grinding pigments, preparing the canvas, managing assistants... the final piece represents a whole web of social and economic relations, it also opens a window to what an artist represents at the time. Editor: All those layers, literally and figuratively! You've made me see it in a new light. Curator: Exactly, now you consider a wider context and production and begin to see things clearly. Editor: Absolutely, thanks for setting the stage and pointing to the details! I am sure listeners now feel empowered and see all aspects represented in this artwork.