Christ Appearing to the Disciples after the Resurrection c. 16th century

Curator: This striking image, "Christ Appearing to the Disciples after the Resurrection," pulls you in, doesn't it? It’s an anonymous work, full of potent religious symbolism, currently housed at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Yes, a bit like looking at a dream. The stark contrast between light and dark gives it a feeling of heightened drama, and everyone's sort of crammed together, like they're all holding their breath. Curator: I see it as a very communal scene. The artist uses the woodcut technique to show how this moment of revelation would have been circulated, replicated, and shared among many. Editor: I'm drawn to the way Christ’s halo is almost like a target. Is it to draw your focus, or does it symbolize something beyond our earthly sight? Curator: Perhaps both. It’s fascinating to consider how this image, made for broad distribution, sought to materialize the divine for a wide audience. Editor: It definitely makes you think about the politics behind art and how certain images become the standard. I appreciate the power in such a simple yet expressive scene.