Jesus Falls the First Time 1917

Editor: This is Eric Gill's "Jesus Falls the First Time," a stark black and white wood engraving. Its graphic nature is really striking. How do you interpret this work, especially given its historical context? Curator: Gill, deeply religious, often used his art for social commentary. Consider the stark contrast: the suffering Christ versus the Roman soldier, a symbol of oppressive authority. How does this resonate with early to mid 20th-century anxieties about power and faith? Editor: I see the visual tension, but I hadn't considered the wider social implications of religious imagery at the time. It's a lot to take in. Curator: Exactly! Gill challenges us to think about the power dynamics inherent in religious narratives and their broader socio-political implications.