Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

Ever since I first became interested in printmaking, I’ve liked Albrecht Dürer’s woodcut engraving from 1498 featuring the four horsemen of the apocalypse. For my interpretation I chose to loop them together with an emphasis on the character qualities described in the Book of Revelation.

The first horseman delivers Conquest with a crown and bow. Riding a white horse, this strong man is intent on dominating the world.

The second horseman brings War and bloodshed. He wields a sword and is here to disrupt peace on Earth by compelling people to kill each other.

The third horseman inflicts Famine on the world. On a black horse balancing a scale, this rider represents the greed in society that creates imbalance in the sharing of essential goods.

The fourth horseman rides a sickly horse and brings vast Death to the world. This is often associated with the effects of plague.

There & Back

I currently have a physical exhibition at Machines With Magnets in Pawtucket, RI, which is available for online viewing here. It’s a collection of old and new work that can be viewed digitally in perpetuity. The linocut illustrations and paintings I selected were photographed by Artland.

Next Stop

This is an illustration that pairs with writing about how the backup plan for civilization after we deplete the resources of Earth is to colonize space. Unfortunately I forgot to reverse the design before carving, so the globe printed backwards. I’ll have to mirror the final print digitally.

Escher's Knives

This linocut illustration pairs with the story of extermination and genocide. The idea is that one group may be able to rationalize wiping out another group, but as power shifts there is always the potential for the blade to turn around at some point. It’s inspired by Escher’s hands drawing each other.