Resurrection of Christ n.d.

This drawing, "Resurrection of Christ," of unknown date and origin, presents an opportunity to explore the social and institutional role of religious imagery. The sketch depicts Christ rising triumphantly, a visual encoding of power and divine authority. The cultural references are deeply embedded in Christian theology. But beyond the surface, it's important to consider what such images did in the societies that produced them. In much of Europe at the time, the church played a central role in nearly all aspects of life. Religious iconography would have served as a constant reminder of the church's power. The focus on Christ's resurrection, a victory over death, could have been a powerful message in times of social unrest or plague. Analyzing the function of the image in its original social and institutional context allows us to see the complex ways in which art reinforces or challenges existing social norms. Art historians use a range of resources, from theological texts to social histories, to reveal these meanings.