The Vision of St Teresa of Ávila 1675

Editor: Here we have Gerard de Lairesse's 1675 engraving, "The Vision of St Teresa of Ávila," currently housed in the Rijksmuseum. It feels very dreamlike and theatrical. How should we approach understanding this work? Curator: Consider first the labour involved in engraving, the tools needed to impress upon the metal plate the vision of Saint Teresa, its physical reality. The burin, the metal, the ink, the press. Editor: It’s fascinating to think about the handcraft that goes into each print, even when multiples exist. Does this materiality give you clues? Curator: Precisely. This image was not just conceived, it was produced through labour. The dissemination of such an image serves the purposes of the Church, obviously, spreading the Catholic Reformation ideology throughout the public, making the divine encounter seem real. Who would purchase this print, and why? Editor: Someone seeking religious inspiration? Curator: Yes, but also someone wishing to align themselves, and their household, with the Catholic Church in a time when religious lines were so significant and caused a great amount of social turmoil. The means of production shape how we understand its purpose. And note how the lines give the composition volume. This highlights not just Teresa’s vision but makes the miracle tangible. What do you think? Editor: It helps to consider its social role as a commodity beyond a depiction of faith. Thank you! Curator: Indeed, a convergence of craft, faith, and cultural narrative all interwoven within a single, produced, object.