Saint Thomas c. 1545

Curator: Here we have Sebald Beham's "Saint Thomas," a delicate engraving from around the mid-16th century, currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The immediate impression is one of quiet resolve. The halo and spear give him a saintly and martial air, but his expression seems burdened, almost melancholy. Curator: Saint Thomas, often called "Doubting Thomas," carries complex associations. Beham highlights his apostolic role through symbolic objects: the halo signifying divinity, and the spear often connected to his martyrdom. Editor: The spear could also represent the piercing of Christ’s side. Thomas demanded physical proof of the Resurrection; his doubt, then, is not just disbelief but a demand for tangible evidence. How does that tie into the sociopolitical climate? Curator: In Reformation-era Europe, images themselves were contested—were they instruments of faith, or potential idols? Beham's engraving navigates that tension, offering a detailed, symbolic image for contemplation. Editor: So, it's not simply a religious image but a statement about the role of visuality itself in faith and knowledge. The work prompts questions about our own demands for proof and certainty in a world of ambiguity. Curator: Precisely. I think Beham encourages a deeper consideration of what it means to believe, to doubt, and ultimately, to find faith in something beyond the visible. Editor: And the image reminds us to think critically, to question, and to demand accountability.