Pandemonium 1831

Editor: This is John Martin's "Pandemonium," a print held at the Harvard Art Museums. The architecture is so imposing, but the whole scene feels ominous. What’s your take on this piece? Curator: The scale indeed evokes power, but let’s consider the means of production. This print, made for mass distribution, brought images of hell to a wider audience. How does this affect its reception versus, say, an exclusive painting? Editor: That's a good point; it makes it more accessible, like propaganda. Curator: Precisely. Martin’s choice of printmaking democratized his vision of hell, transforming it from a high art spectacle into a readily consumed image. It changed the marketplace for art. Editor: I never thought about it that way before! Thanks for that insight. Curator: My pleasure! Examining art through its production reveals so much.