Christ Driving the Money Changers from the Temple c. 16th century

Curator: This anonymous woodcut, held here at the Harvard Art Museums, depicts "Christ Driving the Money Changers from the Temple." Editor: The stark black and white gives it an immediate sense of urgency, like a snapshot of righteous anger caught in time. Curator: Indeed. Look at the historical context of religious reform playing out, how this scene, of purging corruption from a sacred space, resonates with the broader power struggles of the time. Editor: And the symbols are so potent: the overturned table, the fleeing figures, Christ's raised whip. It's a visual shorthand for moral outrage, the enduring battle against greed within religious institutions. Curator: Absolutely. Its message still rings true, doesn't it? The subversion of spaces of worship for commerce still sparks debate and resistance in many intersectional social and political contexts. Editor: Exactly! The visual weight of those symbols continues to carry cultural significance, reminding us to challenge established power dynamics.