Christ Cleansing the Temple 

Luca Giordano created 'Christ Cleansing the Temple', an oil on canvas, capturing a pivotal moment of religious and social tension. Giordano, working in the 17th century, infuses this scene with the dramatic flair characteristic of the Baroque period. The painting depicts Christ expelling merchants and money changers from the Temple. This wasn't just a religious act, it was a powerful challenge to the established socio-economic order. It challenges the authorities who had allowed the sacred space to become a marketplace. Giordano masterfully portrays this clash of values. Notice the raw emotion of the figures, the chaos of the scene, and the physical disruption of bodies and goods. It’s a moment of reckoning. The painting invites us to reflect on the relationship between faith, power, and social justice. It asks: Who holds power, and how is that power wielded in society? What does it mean to disrupt it?