Saint Philip c. 17th century

Curator: This is Nicolas Ryckemans' "Saint Philip," currently housed at the Harvard Art Museums. The medium feels very direct. What's your immediate impression? Editor: There's a somberness that hits you right away. The stark contrast and the subject's aged features convey a sense of weariness, a burden carried. Curator: Ryckemans captures the saint in a moment laden with religious symbolism. Saint Philip is holding a cross, which signifies his faith. Editor: The interesting thing about it is how that kind of imagery, while clearly intended to inspire devotion, also carries a weight of institutional authority. Curator: Absolutely. The image participates in a much larger visual language used to reinforce specific power structures within religious organizations. Editor: It makes you think about who this imagery excluded, silenced, or even harmed. And how we can re-interpret it. Curator: It’s a potent reminder of art's role in history, both as a tool for faith and for reinforcing social hierarchies. Editor: Exactly. Looking at works like this pushes us to consider how images are used, even today, to sway belief and reinforce power.