The Angels of the Euphrates Killing Mankind; and The Angel Preventing Saint John from Recording the Words of the Seven Thunders from an Apocalypse blockbook, 2nd edition 1440 - 1450

Curator: This arresting print, crafted between 1440 and 1450, is titled "The Angels of the Euphrates Killing Mankind; and The Angel Preventing Saint John from Recording the Words of the Seven Thunders" from an Apocalypse blockbook. Editor: It's certainly... striking. The rawness of the lines and the stark contrast immediately convey a sense of unease and violence. What was the function of blockbooks at this time? Curator: Blockbooks were revolutionary. They served as a popular medium for disseminating religious narratives to a largely illiterate population, democratizing access to these stories through printed images and limited text. This piece likely uses woodcut printing, examining how artisans could efficiently create and circulate visuals, bypassing the need for individually handwritten manuscripts. Editor: Seeing it from a contemporary viewpoint, the depictions of power and subjugation resonate strongly. We see armored figures on horseback trampling figures of men and women on the top section, underscoring social hierarchies and the devastation of war, themes very important to medieval populations due to warfare, poverty, and illness. Curator: Absolutely. And if you consider the materiality—the wood block, the ink, the paper—these elements speak to the period's available technology and resources. They weren’t trying to create hyper-realistic works, rather communicate symbolic and meaningful visual data to audiences. The labor involved would be time consuming but relatively accessible at this point, yes? Editor: True. Looking at Saint John, we see the power dynamics playing out again, but in a more intellectual sphere: the angelic intervention suppresses potentially disruptive knowledge. And the combination of these two registers on a single page heightens the overall impact, offering a multi-layered critique of authority. Curator: I'm drawn back to the artistic craftsmanship required for each print, how a single block wears and degrades through contact, resulting in an unique and ephemeral experience for viewers as each iteration shifts in quality across its run. Editor: Right. Overall, considering the artwork, context, and your perspective on materiality highlights profound ideas regarding power, control, but the simple distribution and construction of media, which gives insight into this very turbulent period of Western history. Thank you for sharing that interpretation. Curator: Thanks to you too. This piece prompts reflection on both its production process and the enduring issues of dominance and suppressed narratives.