Samuel smites Agag, King of the Amalekites (I Samuel 15:33) 1923

Editor: This drawing by Lovis Corinth, "Samuel smites Agag, King of the Amalekites," from 1923, feels incredibly raw and visceral. What symbols or imagery stand out to you in this piece? Curator: Corinth's choice to depict this Old Testament scene with such unrestrained energy speaks volumes. Notice how he uses light and shadow – the darkness almost seems to swallow Agag, while Samuel is illuminated with an almost divine, wrathful power. How does that dichotomy resonate with you? Editor: I guess it emphasizes the uncompromising nature of divine justice, but it’s also pretty terrifying. Curator: Indeed. Consider the cultural memory embedded in this story. Corinth invites us to contemplate the enduring power of religious narratives and their symbolic weight. A somber reminder, don't you think? Editor: Definitely. I hadn't thought about how the shadows themselves could hold so much symbolic meaning. Curator: Precisely. The image, therefore, becomes a vessel carrying both the weight of history and the artist’s unique emotional interpretation.