One of my favorite pieces, but one that has rarely been seen. A 20 by 24 inch multiplace intaglio (19), this was a daunting task. 5 were printed, each one taking several hours to prep each plate and setting it up on the press. Of these 5, only 1 is available for sale. This was completed in the summer of 2004 in about a 6 week period. It’s more a less a conglomeration of religious and philisophical things that had my interest at the time. Religious symbology had been prominent in a lot of my work, heavily influenced by my childhood in Italy. The Divine Comedy by Dante was an inspiration as well. I combined these things with the current state of the nation back in 01-04 to create a visual map of sorts. More of a spiritual than a religious person, I have always found a fascination of symbology in general. This was the end result
I II III
(I) Then I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. It had seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns on its horns. And written on each head were names that blasphemed God. This beast looked like a leopard, but it had the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion! And the dragon gave the beast his own power and throne and great authority. Revelation 13:1-2
(II) And the king shall do as he wills. He shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods. He shall prosper till the indignation is accomplished; for what is decreed shall be done. Daniel 11:36-38
(III) After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things. Daniel 7:7-8
(Middle) Ascension to Paradiso (Dante)
(Left) Romulus and Remus (founders of Rome) suckled by a she-wolf after being left in the forest. Legend has it that Romulus killed his brother during an argument over where to locate Rome.
(Right) Nero playing the fiddle as Rome burns. Although only a rumor (and it would’ve been a lyre, no fiddles back then), Nero had become the scapegoat , which he in turn deflected to early Christians.
Circle of Life showing man’s influence in nature. Surrounding it are the positive and negative aspects of life. Mass of people at bottom inspired by Michelangelo’s Last Judgment, located behind the alter of the Sistine Chapel.
(Middle) Descent into the Inferno, Satan as described in Dante’s Inferno as being trapped in ice for personal treachery against God. He is waist deep in ice, and beats his wings as if trying to escape, but the icy wind that emanates only further ensures his imprisonment.
(Left) Banishment of the fallen angels.
(Right) Archangel Michael defeating Satan
(Left) The greedy line their pockets as they make wartime deals. The puppet king is oblivious that they hands that run his strings are more concerned with success of their business partners than the well being of a nation. These events are unwilling supported by the people, whose money and livelihoods are on the table being dealt away.
(Right) Icarus falls after flying to close to the sun. Man struggles against the constriction of Ignorance to reach Inspiration. She offers him knowledge that can better the world or destroy it. Icarus uses his inspiration to fly, only to fall after getting to close to the sun (melting his wax wings).
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: (this edition printed backwards)
1.
When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a day’s wages, and three quarts of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!”
Revelation 6:5-6
2.
When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” I looked and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.
Revelation 6:7-8
3.
When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a huge sword.
Revelation 6:3-4
4.
I watched as the lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.
Revelation 6:1-2
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2020 has been a strange year artistically. The back and hand pain that comes with hand printing linocuts has forced me to take a printmaking break, and go back to ink, watercolor, and paint. With the impending cancellation of this year’s Summer Tour, most of the images I made may be released as art prints. I had chosen this year to forgo a common theme, so each print I was doing worked on it’s own, most inspired by sketches, stickers, or drawing I’ve drawn in the past but never did anything with. Stay tuned for new work on the way!
Josean Rivera 
