Saint John c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have "Saint John," an anonymous engraving. It's compelling to see the saint depicted so humanly. What can you tell me about its historical context? Curator: Consider the engraving's date, likely around 1518. Printmaking allowed religious imagery to circulate more widely. How do you think this accessibility affected religious practice? Editor: I suppose it let more people engage with their faith personally. Curator: Exactly! This democratization of religious images shifted power dynamics. The Church’s control over visual narratives weakened, potentially contributing to social change. Editor: So the image itself became a tool for shifting social norms? Curator: Precisely. Understanding how these images were distributed and consumed reveals much about the era’s power structures. Interesting, isn't it?