Saint John the Baptist and Saint Barbara c. 1411 - 1413

Editor: Here we have Lluís Borrassà’s “Saint John the Baptist and Saint Barbara” at the Harvard Art Museums. I'm struck by the figures' somber expressions. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: Note how the architectural backdrop, ostensibly decorative, subtly cages the figures. Does that evoke feelings of confinement, perhaps reflecting societal constraints placed upon individuals, especially women like Saint Barbara, within a patriarchal structure? Editor: That’s an interesting read of the background. So, the tower, which I thought was just an attribute, could symbolize something else? Curator: Precisely. It can be read as both symbol of her martyrdom, and a signifier of the patriarchal power she defied. It is a potent reminder of women’s historical struggle for agency. What do you make of Saint John's scroll? Editor: It brings a religious element, which contrasts with the more secular reading we just gave Saint Barbara's symbolism. Thanks, I hadn't considered that before.