Martyrdom of Saint Stephen c. 17th century

Editor: This is Gérard Audran's "Martyrdom of Saint Stephen", housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a powerful image, so packed with figures and emotion. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a potent indictment of power structures. Stephen's martyrdom isn't just a religious event; it's a symbol of resistance against oppressive forces. Consider the composition – Christ hovering above, seemingly blessing the violence. Does that resonate with contemporary issues of faith being used to justify injustice? Editor: That's a challenging perspective! Curator: It's meant to be. Art should provoke critical thinking about how these historical narratives continue to shape our present. Editor: I never thought about it that way. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. It is crucial to look at old stories through a contemporary lens.