Ecclesia Antichristi 

Editor: This engraving, called *Ecclesia Antichristi*, is by Sebald Beham, from the Northern Renaissance. The sharp contrast of the black lines carves out a scene that feels strangely tense, like a calm before a storm. Everyone seems preoccupied, but there’s a clear sense of unease in the air. What jumps out at you when you look at it? Curator: That's a great initial read, spotting that sense of foreboding! It's hard to pin down a precise date, but Beham made this during a time of enormous religious upheaval. For me, the “Antichrist” title points to the anxieties about the corruption of religious authority… See how some figures play cards, seemingly oblivious to the impending doom hinted at by the drawn swords above? It suggests a criticism of those blinded by earthly pleasures, while faith crumbles around them. Makes you think about the different ways we choose to see – or not see – the world around us, doesn’t it? Editor: So, you're saying the figures aren’t literally awaiting an antichrist figure, but that they embody the antichrist with their ignorance of genuine faith? Curator: Precisely! Beham doesn't give us literal demons but ordinary folk, us even, maybe. We're all guilty of distraction. He uses a really detailed, almost claustrophobic composition, pushing us to look closely at the signs he includes – coins on the table, that rather nonchalant sword fight going on… What story do *you* think he's trying to tell with these symbolic clues? Editor: Now that I look more closely, it really does feel like chaos thinly veiled with civility! I’d say, now, that it’s a stark reminder to stay alert and question everything – especially those who claim authority. Curator: Exactly! Perhaps art isn’t about simple answers, but about learning to question our assumptions. Thank you, it's like Beham gave us a map and we got to choose our destination. Editor: Yeah, and my destination now has far fewer assumptions along the way! Thanks for helping unpack it!