Illustration LX: Illustration for Book of Revelation c. 16th century

Editor: This is Illustration LX for the Book of Revelation, by an anonymous artist. It’s a fascinating image. What symbols do you think are most potent here? Curator: The figure at the bottom clearly represents John the Evangelist, traditionally credited with authoring Revelation. Note the banner. It's a coded message, isn’t it? Editor: Coded? In what way? Curator: Words can be symbols, too. The Latin text, the angels, the strange beasts – these aren't just decoration. They're keys to unlocking cultural anxieties around the apocalypse. What feelings do these images evoke for you? Editor: Mostly a sense of unease, and a struggle to understand all the layers. Curator: Exactly! It’s a complex message about the end times. Editor: I hadn’t thought of the text as symbolic, but that makes sense. Thanks!