Saint Michael Conquering Satan n.d.

Editor: Here we have an intriguing piece titled "Saint Michael Conquering Satan." It's undated, created by an anonymous Italian artist, employing pen, ink, chalk on paper—resulting in a print, currently residing here at the Art Institute of Chicago. My first thought? It's dynamic, dramatic, even a little unsettling. The loose, swirling lines add to this feeling of intense movement. What catches your eye when you look at this work? Curator: Well, what a deliciously tangled dance between good and evil, eh? It reminds me a little of the bittersweet irony of life. Those quick, frantic lines? They whisper of the internal battles we all face. The angel’s not just defeating Satan; he’s battling something within himself. The "something within himself" is really whatever the hell (no pun intended!) each of us thinks it might be in each of us. What do *you* think that "something" is here? Editor: Maybe that "something" is doubt, or even the potential for corruption within Saint Michael himself? Curator: Precisely! That push-and-pull, that gorgeous struggle... that’s what makes it sing. It's as if we are seeing a snapshot of morality at war. Is there anything concrete in this "sketch" for you, in terms of a symbol or form, or in some stylistic gesture or moment, that maybe encapsulates "morality" at war for you here? Editor: For me, the strongest symbolic part would have to be that Michael is physically above Satan—both spiritually and, quite literally, within the frame. That shows who has dominion. Curator: I love that read. Makes me think that perhaps anonymous *wanted* us to come up with some more individual answers here; or, in our very uncertainty as to what to think about this "saint and satan sketch", each viewer's reading of those lines is an affirmation of free will in the face of good or evil! That said, any afterthoughts here? Editor: This makes me appreciate how much even a simple sketch can convey complex ideas! Curator: Couldn’t agree more.