Demonisation of religious opponents

The Devil greets us in many guises in art. But what happens when artists use the likenesses of real people to represent the Devil?

In such instances, the image of the Devil becomes a political tool. In the sixteenth century, riven by power struggles between the Catholic Church and Protestantism, this was a device used by both sides. Each taunted the other by equating their respective opponent with the Devil – by literally demonising each other.

During these years, for example, we see the Pope as a dignitary by the grace of the Devil, and Martin Luther as a faithful companion of the Prince of Darkness. On one point, however, both sides agreed: the demonisation of Judaism.

Particularly insulting was a type of image known in German as a Judensau, meaning ‘the Jew’s sow’. Pictures of this kind show Jews being suckled by a female pig – in Judaism, an unclean animal – or drinking its urine. The pig thereby represents the Devil.

A leaflet in our exhibition also shows the Devil wearing a yellow badge – a stigmatising mark of Jewish identity. The Devil himself is thus depicted as Jewish.