Moses Indignant at the Golden Calf c. 1799 - 1800

Editor: This is William Blake's "Moses Indignant at the Golden Calf," housed in the Tate. The scene is intense, Moses is overwhelmed with rage. What social commentaries do you see embedded in this painting? Curator: Blake uses this biblical moment to critique power structures. Consider Moses, initially a liberator, now enacting his own form of control. How does this resonate with post-colonial critiques of revolutionary figures? Editor: I see that, the cycle of oppression continues. Curator: Precisely. Blake challenges us to question the narratives we inherit and to consider how power dynamics perpetuate across different contexts. A relevant message, even today. Editor: I never thought about it that way. It highlights the complexities within movements for liberation.