The Slanderer 1851

"The Slanderer" (1851) by Charles Rambert depicts a monstrous figure, the Slanderer, seated in a dark, enclosed space. The Slanderer, with a wolf-like mask and a serpent necklace, is writing in a book, surrounded by objects associated with knowledge and writing. The artist captures the Slanderer's evil intent and the power of gossip through the grotesque appearance and menacing pose. This lithograph, housed in the Art Institute of Chicago, offers a chilling visual commentary on the destructive nature of slander.