Crucifix, Chalice & Host 1915

Curator: This is Eric Gill's "Crucifix, Chalice & Host," a wood engraving held in the Tate Collections. Editor: It's stark. The figure is emaciated, almost skeletal, yet there’s a strange sense of grace. Curator: Gill was deeply religious and infused his art with his beliefs. The chalice catching Christ's blood speaks to sacrifice and redemption. Considering the period of rising secularism, this piece becomes a powerful statement. Editor: The material itself, the wood engraving, is interesting. The stark contrast, the labor-intensive carving—it emphasizes the physical aspect of faith, the toil and suffering. Curator: Exactly, and within the historical context, one can view this as a response to the changing social structures, a challenge to the increasing disconnect between labor and spirituality. How might we interpret its message for a modern audience? Editor: Perhaps as a reminder of the tangible, the made—a counterpoint to our increasingly digital existence. Food for thought.