Christ Appearing to the Disciples after the Resurrection c. 18th century

Curator: This is Franz Anton Maulbertsch's "Christ Appearing to the Disciples after the Resurrection," currently held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's striking—the stark contrast and the way light seems almost tangible, like another material in the composition. Curator: Maulbertsch was a master of the Rococo style, deeply influenced by Venetian painting. His work often grapples with themes of faith and the theatricality of religious experience. Editor: You can almost feel the labor in those etched lines, the repetitive act of creating the image. It really emphasizes the communal aspect of faith and its transmission, and also raises the question of how the church consumed art. Curator: Absolutely, and consider how this image might have functioned within the broader religious landscape of the 18th century. The church's patronage shaped Maulbertsch's career. Editor: Examining this further, it's apparent that the reproduction and dissemination of religious imagery was carefully controlled, a form of ideological production. Curator: Indeed. It's fascinating to view through both a religious and social lens. Editor: It is, seeing the faith embodied and the means to an end converge.