The Brazen Serpent c. 18th century

Curator: Domenico Cunego, who lived from 1726 to 1803, created this print titled "The Brazen Serpent," now part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It feels like a coiled nightmare, all tangled bodies and a snaky, bronze glint in the middle. Curator: The artwork depicts a scene from the Book of Numbers, when God sent serpents to punish the Israelites, but offered salvation to those who looked upon the bronze serpent Moses created. Editor: So, it's about looking to the source of your pain for healing? A bit like staring your demons in the face… or maybe just getting a really good prescription? Curator: It's interesting to view this through a lens of power dynamics. The gaze towards the serpent becomes an act of submission and faith, yet also a potential reclaiming of agency. Editor: You know, the composition makes me feel a little claustrophobic, like being trapped in a really intense therapy session. Curator: Perhaps Cunego aimed to evoke that sense of collective suffering and the desperate search for redemption. Editor: I guess even in a bronze snake, there’s a glimmer of hope. Art—it always sneaks up on you, doesn’t it?