Mannen van Sodom met blindheid geslagen 1571 - 1579

Editor: This engraving, "Mannen van Sodom met blindheid geslagen," or "The Men of Sodom Struck with Blindness" by Philips Galle, made somewhere between 1571 and 1579, is currently at the Rijksmuseum. The composition is so dynamic, full of movement and these really distressed figures. It’s pretty intense. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Intense is spot on! I think Galle really captures that pivotal moment, you know, the very second divine retribution hits. What grabs me is how he uses the print medium – all those meticulously etched lines – to convey both physical and moral decay. Baroque art, as this is, does like its drama. Does the theatricality speak to you at all? Editor: Absolutely! The exaggerated gestures, the way they're stumbling... it’s almost operatic. I was curious about the story of Sodom and why Galle would want to immortalize that specific moment. Curator: Exactly, that historical context enriches it so much. Think of the 16th century and its religious fervour! The tale is of sin and punishment; Galle probably wanted to issue a warning. Now look at how the architecture almost seems to loom over the figures. What does that suggest? Editor: That is does feel like being surrounded by a judgmental gaze, the buildings amplifying the pressure... the narrative's everywhere, and so is its reach, the more that I ponder its figures, textures, and lines! Curator: Indeed. We observe here Galle as narrator, moralist, artist, and technical master. I’ll certainly reflect on all of these details during my next visit. Editor: Me too, there are multiple angles to discover the rich implications within Galle’s technique, perspective and choices of imagery.