Serpent 1815 - 1825

This is a serpent, a wind instrument crafted by C. Baudouin. Its form, an undulating body made of wood and brass, visually echoes the biblical serpent, a symbol laden with complex cultural meanings. The serpent has historically been used in churches and other religious settings. It was employed to support the voices of the singers, particularly men, in sacred music. Consider the intersection of religious expression and patriarchal structures. How might the serpent have amplified not just sound, but also the dominance of certain voices within the religious and social spheres? The serpent embodies a duality—it is both an instrument of worship and a reminder of temptation and discord. This tension reflects the multifaceted nature of human belief and the ever-present struggle between good and evil, sacred and profane.