Christ at Emmaus Presenting the Bread 1630 - 1640

Bernardo Strozzi rendered this drawing, Christ at Emmaus Presenting the Bread, with charcoal and chalk in Italy during the 17th century. The image depicts a key moment in the Gospel of Luke, when the resurrected Christ reveals himself to two disciples through the breaking of bread. Strozzi was working in a period marked by the Counter-Reformation, where the Catholic Church sought to reaffirm its authority through art. The image creates meaning through its visual codes, referencing the sacrament of the Eucharist. Given Strozzi’s historical context, we might see his art as engaging with the social and institutional structures of his time. A closer look into Strozzi’s biography reveals that, despite working for noble patrons, he would later enter a Capuchin monastery. The historian's role is crucial in interpreting the visual language of art. By examining period texts and religious history, we can better understand the social and institutional contexts that shaped Strozzi’s work and his theological concerns.