Much Reduced Study of the Dragon in Carpaccio's Picture of St. George and the Dragon, in the Chapel of S. Giorgio dei [sic] Schiavoni, Venice, 1876 1875

Editor: This is Charles Herbert's 1876 watercolor, "Much Reduced Study of the Dragon in Carpaccio's Picture of St. George and the Dragon." It's intensely unsettling. What does this dragon evoke for you? Curator: Herbert’s focus reframes Carpaccio’s dragon. It's not merely a monster to be slain, but a symbol of systemic oppression. Consider the skulls—remnants of victims, a visual representation of power structures that consume marginalized bodies. Editor: So, it’s not just about good versus evil? Curator: Exactly. Herbert compels us to confront the uncomfortable truth that these narratives often mask deeper, more insidious forms of control. The dragon embodies the violence inherent in maintaining social hierarchies. Editor: I hadn't considered that. It definitely adds another layer to the original story. Curator: Herbert's study urges us to question whose stories are being told and whose are being erased, highlighting the dragon’s enduring relevance in contemporary struggles against injustice.