Head of Christ 18th-19th century

Curator: This is David Weiss’s "Head of Christ," residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: He looks so gentle, almost melancholic. The soft shading gives him such a serene expression. Curator: Weiss was a Swiss artist working in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, and this piece reflects a time of Neoclassical ideals mingling with religious iconography. Editor: I see it. It's like he's trying to humanize a figure who's often presented as distant or untouchable, making him relatable but still maintaining a certain reverence. Curator: Absolutely. Consider the context of shifting societal views on religion and authority, and Weiss is making a statement about accessibility. Editor: It's a powerful piece, resonating with both spiritual and artistic depth. Curator: Indeed, a beautiful intersection of technique and the evolving role of religious art.