Kaïn en Abel 1857 - 1910

John Macallan Swan rendered "Kaïn en Abel" in black chalk, a medium capable of producing dramatic contrasts, somewhere between 1847 and 1910. The piece depicts Cain fleeing after murdering his brother Abel, one of the foundational narratives of the Bible. What strikes me here is Swan's choice to center Cain's psychological state; the shame and horror of fratricide are etched into his posture. His face is hidden, turned away from us and towards the dark, tangled trees. Abel's body lies discarded, almost an afterthought. Swan lived and worked during a time of intense social change and religious questioning. Perhaps the piece reflects a shift away from glorifying biblical stories towards exploring the darker aspects of human nature. It's a work that invites us to confront the potential for violence and guilt that exists within us all.