Fotoreproductie van een schilderij, voorstellende de aartsengel Michaël vertrapt Satan c. 1852 - 1862

Curator: Here, nestled within the pages of an old book, is a photogravure reproducing a painting entitled "Archangel Michael Trampling Satan." Created sometime between 1852 and 1862, the artwork comes to us courtesy of the Rijksmuseum, its maker presently unknown. Editor: Whoa, there's so much happening here—a chaotic struggle, like something unearthed from a baroque dream. I'm immediately drawn to Michael’s wings. They appear so...heavy, like he's an angel weighted down by duty, more warrior than a celestial being. Curator: Absolutely. It's worth noting the powerful symbolism, too. Michael, the epitome of divine righteousness, stands triumphant over the serpentine Satan. He wields his weapon—likely a sword or spear—ready to strike a final blow. The message of good conquering evil is pretty direct. Editor: Oh, certainly direct. I'm more intrigued by how the serpent morphs, how the lines suggesting it bleed into what is also quite explicitly a tormented man. It's all about control, not only religious control, but a repression of animal nature within. Almost a cautionary Freudian tale, really, and it does strike me as a bit sinister that this is featured inside a novel; it's a picture about what kind of stories we need to repeat to ourselves to control unruly human impulses. Curator: That’s interesting! It is certainly open to broader interpretation. From a traditional standpoint, Archangel Michael is a very common and revered figure across multiple cultures. He represents not only triumph but also protection and justice. It is curious, given that context, that this particular portrayal feels unsettling, a feeling definitely heightened by the book context. Editor: Yes, exactly. Considering the piece’s date, in the mid-19th century, the piece sits between traditional religious imagery and new theories of psychology and the unconscious. Perhaps this moment represents an awareness that evil may not be easily banished, but kept at bay at great cost, by very human guardians with weighty wings? Curator: Food for thought indeed! So much from one small page. Editor: A small page for such a large theme, yes. Always a potent combo!