Journey to Emmaus 17th-18th century

Editor: This is Bernard Picart's "Journey to Emmaus". It's a small ink drawing. It feels like a quick sketch, capturing a biblical story in a very informal way. What do you make of this piece? Curator: Well, Picart was working during a time of religious and political upheaval. The accessibility of printed images like this allowed for wider dissemination of religious narratives, bypassing the traditional authority of the Church. How might this image challenge or reinforce existing power structures? Editor: That’s interesting. I hadn’t thought about how prints democratized religious imagery. It changes my perspective on it entirely! Curator: Exactly! Considering the social and historical context helps unlock deeper meanings within the art.