"And the beast was taken..." XIX.20 

Bernard Reder created "And the beast was taken..." using printmaking, rendering a grotesque head with wild hair, bulging eyes, and menacing fangs. This image resonates with ancient apotropaic symbols, intended to ward off evil. Consider the Gorgon Medusa, whose image adorned shields and temples in ancient Greece. Her petrifying gaze, much like the stare of Reder's beast, served as a potent defense. We see echoes of this in medieval gargoyles, perched on cathedrals, their grotesque forms meant to repel malevolent spirits. The persistence of such imagery speaks to a deep-seated, perhaps subconscious, human need to confront and contain the darker aspects of existence. The emotional power of this image lies in its ability to evoke primal fear. It is a reminder that the beast lurks not only outside but also within us, a concept explored in folklore and psychoanalysis alike. This recurring motif reflects our continuous struggle to understand and control the chaotic forces that threaten to overwhelm us.