Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector c. 16th century

Curator: There's something so starkly compelling about the anonymous "Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector." It feels like a moral compass rendered in the simplest of terms. What do you feel when you first look at this image? Editor: The composition is striking. It's not just a religious scene; it’s a commentary on power dynamics, right? The seated figure, adorned with royal signifiers, juxtaposed with the crowd above—it hints at hierarchies of class and divine judgment. Curator: Precisely! The artist’s choice to depict the parable this way, absent of specific dates, really opens it up. It allows the viewer to consider the ongoing dance between humility and self-righteousness, doesn’t it? Editor: Absolutely, it invites that introspection. Who occupies the higher ground and why? I read this image as a challenge to established norms, urging us to question who society deems worthy. Curator: A challenge, or perhaps a gentle reminder that judgment belongs to something bigger than us? Editor: Maybe both. Art often holds that tension, doesn't it? Curator: It does, and I appreciate the questions it provokes—it really makes you think. Editor: Indeed. It’s like looking into a mirror.