Tags

The most successful conclusions will undoubtedly come from the images themselves. One of the most useful ways to compare these images is to Browse by Tags. Tags identify the different mediums, demoniacs, type of exorcism, and visible symptoms. The following index explains each tag and its possibilities. 

A

B

  • Biblical Possession- images of Christ performing exorcism rather than priests of saints. These images illustrate demonic possessions from the Bible. 
  • binding- binding is a common way of containing a demoniac. In these images the rope is tied around the demoniacs ankles and wrist or it is seen broken around the demoniac limbs to suggest that they were previous tied but either their swollen muscles or supernatural strength broke thier bonds. 
  • birthing rabbits- an uncommon symptom of demonic possession. A woman was recorded having birthed seventeen rabbits during her possession, which Hogarth satarizes in this print. 
  • blackened tongue- black tongue
  • boy demoniac- young children are not frequqntly represented as possessed. Most of these images are of biblical possessions. 
  • bulge in throat- a symptoms of demonic possession that is not clearly or often in seen in images. 

C

  • contortion- the unnatural posture of a demoniac in an image that suggests demonic control over bodily movements. 

D

  • demon- the represntation of a single demon escaping the scene of a successful exorcism. 
  • Demonic Possession- images of priests and saints performing exorcism rather than Jesus performing a biblical exorcism. 
  • demons- the representation of multiple demon figures escaping the scene after a successful exorcism. 
  • drawing-medium

E

  • engraving- medium
  • Eucharist- the Eucharist was used near the end of Catholic exorcisms and usually caused the most violent and visceral symptoms to manifest in the demoniac. The Eucharist is a point of disagreement between the Protesntants and the Catholics because of thier differing beliefs of transubstantiation. Its representation in images is a clear indication of Catholic propaganda. 
  • exposing her chest- an example of immodest or immoral behavior. Tearing of clothes is seen in many images but for a woman to tear at her clothes and expose her chest is an indication of a larger symptom of unacceptable social behavior. 
  • eyes rolling into the back of the head- another symptoms seen in images and less heard of in possession narratives. Demoniac observed with thier eyes rolling into the back of thier head is a suggestion of the physical pain associated with demonic possession. 

F

  • fallen-many demoniacs are exhibited on the ground or as if they have just fallen. Falling can be expected if one is expereincing violent convusions. Therefore, images of demoniacs haven fallen to the ground may indicate convulsions, a common symptom in demonic possession. 
  • Farce on Possession- William Hogarth satarized the demonic possession craze in the early modern period with this print. 
  • female demoniac- women and children were reported in greater numbers in the early modern period because they were considered more feeble. Though this collections shows nearly equal numbers of male and female demoniacs and little to no children demoniacs. 
  • foaming at the mouth- an unusual symptom visible in images and not explicated in possession narratives. Communicated extreme discomfort and unwellness. 

G

H

I

J

K

L

  • levitation- a symptom of demonic possession that 18th and 19th century psychoanalysits and psychologists claimed as a skill that could be learned. Levitation is an occasional symptom of demonic possession most popularized in films of demonic possession. 
  • looking up- an interesting and popular theme foudn in analyzing these images. Occasionally the demoniac is looking up at the demon escaping from thier mouth and other time the artist has simply represented the demoniac looking up. 

M

  • male demoniac- statistically males were less likely to become possessed by demons, though there are less images of female demoniacs then male demoniacs. Gender differences are explained through social construction of early modern Europe in describing females and feeble open vessles. 

N

  • nude- demoniacs could be found in states of nudity. Nudity is also an indication of unnatural and immoral behavior expected of demoniacs. Though nudity was the result of different types of madness and expresses the animalistic quality overtaking a human being. 

O

P

  • Painting- medium
  • Panel Painting- medium
  • physical pain- like screaming, by making demoniac appear as if extreme physical pain the artist convinces the audience of the horror of demonic possession and encourages the fear of the devil and the acknowledgement of the true religion. 
  • Print- medium 
  • pulling hair- pulling hair is an indication of self-harm. This symptoms, chosen by the artist, represents the larger catagory of demoniacs harming themselves while possessed. 

Q

  • restraining- restraining is when audience members can be seen holding on to the demoniac. This is an example of the crowd no longer being observers and become participants in the exorcism.
  • rigidity of limbs-rigidty of limbs is a symptoms common in demonic possession. This is one of the few symptoms that easily translate from life into representation. Outstretched arms, unbended limbs and stiff looking posture are indications of rigid limbs. 

S

  • screaming- by representing an open mouth and a look of distress an artists indicates the act of screaming. By making demoniac appear as if screaming in pain the artist convinces the audience of the horror of demonic possession and encourages the fear of the devil and the acknowledgement of the true religion. 
  • swollen muscles- swollen muscles is a typical symptoms reported in possession narrative. Swollen muscles could also be attributed to another symptoms of supernatural strength. Thus, artists could more easily represent supernatural strength by giving their demoniac swollen muscles. 

T

  • torn clothes- this symptom typically represented in images though not expliciptly stated in possession narratives is an iconographic tool artists used to make the demoniac appear ore wild and animalistic. 

U

  • unnatural color of skin- this symptom is represented clearly in five items. Though not a typical symptom recorded in possession narrative, artists could use unnatural skin color to indicate that the demoniac was not well. 

V

  • vomiting pins- vomiing pins is a supernatural symptom of demonic possession. Although, this symptom alone could not determine possession because some people swallowed pins in order to fake possession. William Hogarth satarizes this possibility in this print. 

W

X

Y

Z