Time Protects Innocence against Sin and Envy c. 18th century

Editor: This is Giovanni Folo's "Time Protects Innocence against Sin and Envy." It feels very dramatic, almost theatrical, with the figures so expressively posed. What strikes you about the socio-political context of this image? Curator: Considering Folo's era, the late 18th-early 19th century, the print medium made such allegorical scenes widely accessible. How might the public at the time have interpreted this depiction of virtue and vice, particularly with the rise of Enlightenment ideals? Editor: Perhaps as a straightforward moral lesson? Curator: Maybe, but I wonder if there was a growing awareness of the power dynamics at play – who defines "innocence" and "sin," and who benefits from these definitions being circulated so widely? What do you think about that? Editor: I hadn’t considered that. It gives the artwork a whole new layer of complexity. Curator: Indeed. It underscores how art reflects and shapes societal values and power structures.