Weather Vane - Angel Gabriel c. 1939

Editor: This is "Weather Vane - Angel Gabriel" from around 1939, made by Salvatore Borrazzo. It seems to be a drawing or print of a metal weather vane. I find its silhouetted form quite striking and timeless, but what are your thoughts? What kind of visual language do you see in this image? Curator: The figure of the angel, particularly Gabriel, is saturated with cultural significance. Historically, Gabriel is the messenger, the announcer, the one who bridges the divine and earthly realms. Consider the trumpet – an age-old symbol, isn’t it? Editor: Definitely, it’s about pronouncements. Like "hear ye, hear ye," in a royal announcement or heralding something important. Curator: Exactly. Trumpets clear the air, they signify new eras, transformation. Now consider its placement as a weather vane, a structure indicating direction. What message are we receiving? Where is it guiding us culturally or spiritually? Editor: So, the artist may be alluding to direction… as more than just wind direction. But guiding our moral compass, perhaps? Curator: Potentially, or maybe prompting us to evaluate societal and personal winds of change. We interpret the weather, just like we interpret messages. A weather vane in the form of the herald serves as a continuous reminder to decipher symbols, reflect upon the world's direction. Editor: I never thought about it that way before, but the trumpet being a weather vane almost redefines the function and representation of it, and brings this image to another dimension! Curator: Indeed. These images create narratives across generations. That is what makes visual language compelling.