The Demagogue
8.5" x 11.5"
Ink, Graphite on Paper
THE DEMAGOGUE
DOUBLE-SPEAK • MANIPULATION • WOUNDS OF THE CROWD
A horned beast limps forward, pierced by arrows that mark the people’s rage. Yet it grins, unbroken, speaking still. From its torso another face protrudes, snarling with equal force, one mouth promising salvation while the other hisses deception. Two faces, one body: the mask of double-speak. Words are twisted into weapons, oaths split into contradictions, and truth dies in the space between.
The Demagogue embodies the peril of rhetoric divorced from integrity. It warns of leaders who charm with eloquence but serve only their own hunger. The arrows symbolize the backlash of betrayed trust, yet also the resilience of lies, wounded but still alive. This image asks you to question what voices you follow, and to examine your own speech: are your words aligned with truth, or crafted to manipulate? Beware of propaganda, false promises, and the seduction of spectacle.
Reversed: The spell breaks. The double-tongued mask slips, and the crowd sees the beast for what it is. Lies collapse under their own weight, and clarity pierces through illusion.
The Demagogue signals freedom from manipulation, reclaiming your voice, and refusing to be swayed by shadows dressed as light.