Saint Michael the Archangel crushing the demon underfoot 1700 - 1800

Curator: Immediately, I notice the contrast! The graphic, linear style almost gives the scene a starkness at odds with the very dramatic subject. Editor: Exactly! What we have here is an engraving, believed to have been created sometime between 1700 and 1800, called "Saint Michael the Archangel crushing the demon underfoot.” It's currently held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Curator: Ah, that title makes it clear! The way the artist rendered the angel's triumph feels remarkably immediate despite the clearly established art historical theme of good versus evil. One can trace how Saint Michael has been evoked and remade in so many historical conflicts. Editor: I'm fascinated by the line work. Look at the marks making up the demon; there's a real sense of physical strain communicated by those jagged, hurried lines. Meanwhile, the angel’s garments appear far more orderly. It directs our eyes to question the skill of laborers. Curator: That difference is incredibly important; it illustrates the way power and status are performed. Baroque art often employs dramatic tension and that's apparent even in what some might consider an anonymous work. Even on paper, the grand narrative of Catholicism endures. Editor: Yes, and it’s not just about content, but labor: think of the physical work involved in engraving. Each line had to be physically cut. I imagine that repetition, the sheer physicality, must have seeped into the final work. And consider how widely it could be reproduced! Curator: That replicability certainly extends its social influence. Prints like these democratized imagery, carrying not only biblical tales but reinforcing the power structures of the church across society. Dissemination through commerce and faith solidified cultural norms. Editor: A really poignant visual summary of the historical narratives we've touched upon. It gives one much to think about material and meaning. Curator: Absolutely. Thinking about both the power it projects and the cultural moment in which the power dynamic becomes apparent is critical.