The Last Supper 16th-17th century

Curator:Editor: Pieter de Jode the Elder's "The Last Supper" is a detailed engraving. The expressions seem so dramatic. What social dynamics do you see playing out? Curator: This piece invites us to consider the power dynamics inherent in religious narratives. How does the artist portray Jesus's authority, and how might that reflect the social hierarchies of the time? Editor: I see Jesus centrally placed, but the disciples are reacting with such varied emotions. Does this highlight a tension between the divine and the human? Curator: Absolutely. And consider who is included and excluded, both literally and figuratively. Whose stories are centered, and whose are marginalized in this depiction? How does that speak to contemporary issues of representation and voice? Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered before. It makes me think about the role of art in reinforcing or challenging societal norms. Curator: Precisely! It’s about understanding art as an active participant in shaping our understanding of the world. Editor: Thanks, I'll never look at it the same way again.