Cain and Abel 1558

Editor: This woodcut, called "Cain and Abel," is by an anonymous artist. It's a stark scene, full of violence and anguish. What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: The brutality is undeniable, but let's consider the societal context. This image, endlessly reproduced, reinforces a patriarchal narrative where jealousy and fratricide stem from divine favor. How does it serve to establish hierarchies and moral codes? Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered. I was focused on the immediate horror. Curator: Exactly! It's designed to elicit that response. But we must also ask, whose story is being told, and who benefits from the telling? Editor: That's a powerful question to ask of any artwork, really. Thanks for helping me think about this more deeply. Curator: My pleasure. Art is never neutral.