Illustration LXV: the 12th figure: the red dragon who is cast out of heaven by Michael spews forth a flood after the woman clothed with the sun who has brought forth a man child. The earth swallows the flood and the dragon makes war with her seed (Revelation 12) c. 16th century

Editor: This is Illustration LXV, a woodcut depicting Revelation 12 by an anonymous artist. The chaotic imagery really strikes me. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a powerful visual representation of patriarchal anxieties. The dragon’s war against the woman and her seed speaks to the historical suppression of female agency and the control of reproduction. Editor: So, you’re saying the dragon symbolizes that control? Curator: Precisely. Consider how the "flood" is swallowed by the earth – a reclamation of sorts. It raises questions about resistance to these power structures. What kind of impact do you think art such as this had on viewers? Editor: Wow, I never thought about it that way. Now I’m wondering about the contemporary relevance of this symbolism. Curator: Exactly! These old images can open up new dialogues about ongoing struggles for liberation.