Jesus Meets Veronica 1917

Curator: Eric Gill’s wood engraving, “Jesus Meets Veronica,” captivates with its stark black and white contrast. What strikes you first? Editor: Its severity. The figures are so formalized, almost like icons. There’s a weightiness to the scene—a sense of suffering and the strength of empathy. Curator: Absolutely. Gill's Catholicism and interest in medieval art are evident. The stylized figures and use of line really focus on the spiritual drama. Veronica's gesture offering the cloth... Editor: ... it’s a powerful act of defiance against the spectacle of public suffering. It brings up questions about whose stories are centered, and who is allowed to offer solace in times of crisis. Curator: I see what you mean, it’s an interesting piece. It really makes you think about the artist's intentions and how those intentions can be interpreted. Editor: It's a reminder that art, even art with religious themes, exists within a social and political context.