The Bronze Serpent 

Editor: This is Gustave Doré’s engraving, "The Bronze Serpent." The scene is incredibly dramatic – almost apocalyptic. What strikes me is how Doré uses light and shadow to create a sense of chaos and suffering, but with this single pole erected showing what appears to be salvation. What do you see in this work? Curator: I see a powerful representation of trauma and healing, deeply intertwined with societal power structures. The original biblical story, from the Book of Numbers, speaks to a community punished for dissent, bitten by serpents in the wilderness. The bronze serpent, erected by Moses, becomes a symbol of redemption – but also of control. Consider how this narrative has been historically used to justify authority and demand obedience. Editor: So, the act of looking at the serpent, this symbol, is also an act of submitting to authority? Curator: Precisely. And within that submission, there's a complex interplay of faith, fear, and power. Doré's imagery amplifies this tension, presenting a desperate crowd seeking deliverance. But think about who benefits from this "salvation." Is it truly liberating, or does it reinforce existing hierarchies? Editor: That's a really interesting perspective. I was just seeing the image as one of straightforward religious hope. Curator: It is visually compelling as hope! But let's consider how representations like this often function within broader sociopolitical contexts. How does it shape our understanding of power dynamics, obedience, and collective identity, both back then and in the present? Where are we putting our gaze now, in our own crises? Who gets to be lifted on the pole, and who is left to look? Editor: I hadn’t really thought about it that way. It makes me think differently about religious imagery in general and how it intersects with issues of power and social control.