Mammon 1884 - 1885

Curator: The overwhelming presence of George Frederic Watts's "Mammon," which resides here at the Tate, really makes one pause. Editor: It does. The somber palette and almost grotesque central figure inspire a visceral sense of unease. The human figures seem almost crushed. Curator: Watts painted this work to critique the burgeoning capitalist society of Victorian England. Mammon, of course, is the biblical personification of greed. Notice the skulls positioned above Mammon—icons of death looming over wealth. Editor: So, Watts uses the symbolism of Mammon to represent the destructive consequences of pursuing wealth at the expense of human lives? The sacrifice of individuals for economic gain becomes quite clear. Curator: Precisely. The figures writhe almost sacrificially, and his crown, almost a mockery of power, hints at the hollowness at the heart of materialism. Editor: It's a truly impactful piece. Watts successfully uses familiar iconographies to deliver a powerful social message still relevant today. Curator: Indeed, a stark reminder of the human cost of unchecked ambition.