Transfiguration c. 18th century

Curator: This is Johann Georg Bergmüller's "Transfiguration," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. The artwork dates back to sometime between Bergmüller's birth in 1688 and death in 1762. Editor: It has a dramatic, almost theatrical quality. The light seems to be bursting from the central figure, casting the others in shadow. Curator: Bergmüller masterfully uses light and shadow to depict the biblical scene of Jesus' transfiguration before the apostles. Note the positioning of Moses and Elijah in the clouds behind Jesus. Editor: It's interesting to consider how this imagery was used politically. Representing power dynamics and reinforcing religious doctrine was very common in art of that era. Curator: Exactly. The visual language of Baroque art, with its emphasis on grandeur and drama, was often employed to assert the authority of the Church. Editor: I think analyzing the visual elements while understanding the artwork's socio-political context allows us to engage with its message on a deeper level. It challenges us to consider how institutions can utilize art to convey power.