Lucius Mutius, Scipio Africanus, and Paulus Aemilius (recto) Battle Scene (verso) from Officia M.T.C., plate 23 from Woodcuts from Books of the XVI Century c. 1531 - 1937

This woodcut, made by Hans Weiditz, II, presents figures from antiquity, their forms delineated through stark contrasts of black and white. The composition is bisected, drawing our gaze to the figures of Lucius Mutius, Scipio Africanus, and Paulus Emilius, who are elevated above the rest. This spatial arrangement establishes a hierarchy, reinforced by the formal rendering of their contemplative stances. The linear quality of the woodcut medium lends itself to a graphic style where detail is suggested rather than explicitly shown. Notice how the lines create a sense of texture, particularly in the drapery and architectural elements, which serve to flatten the image while creating depth through their arrangement. Weiditz uses a semiotic system to depict power and authority by visually separating the central figures from the bustling scene behind them. The contrast challenges fixed notions of historical representation, engaging with new ways of thinking about space and power within the frame. This contrast invites viewers to reflect on the cultural codes embedded within the artwork and to consider how they influence our understanding of the subject matter.