Christuskop 1815 - 1862

Erin Corr made this head of Christ using graphite on paper. The image participates in a long history of representing Jesus, and so raises interesting questions about the politics of imagery. Consider that the Christian faith has historically been one of the dominant institutions shaping Western culture. How, then, does art serve to reinforce the power of religious institutions, or potentially to challenge them? In nineteenth-century Europe, religious imagery was used to express moral ideals, but also to reinforce political structures. Religious imagery often provided emotional support during times of unrest, but it also helped to shape the social and political status quo. To gain a deeper understanding, we might examine church records from the period, political documents, and writings by religious figures. By considering the social and institutional contexts, we can see how this image functioned within the complex cultural landscape of its time.