Slaughter of the Innocents 1914

Editor: This wood engraving, Eric Gill's "Slaughter of the Innocents," is intense and unsettling. What historical context might illuminate this work? Curator: Gill, a controversial figure himself, engages with a biblical narrative steeped in patriarchal violence. How does the composition reflect the power dynamics at play, and how might Gill's personal history inform our understanding of this brutal scene? Editor: It's hard to ignore the figures' expressions. The woman's horror is palpable. Curator: Exactly. Consider the gaze. Who is looking where? And how does that direct our own reading of the image in light of gendered violence and the control of female bodies? Editor: It makes you consider the different perspectives of those involved and the broader implications of such historical narratives. Curator: Indeed. Art can be a powerful tool for interrogating uncomfortable truths about our past and present.