Christ Cleansing the Temple before 1570

Curator: El Greco’s "Christ Cleansing the Temple," painted before 1570, is an explosion of movement and vibrant colour. Editor: Absolutely, a visual assault in the best possible way. The energy almost vibrates off the canvas. There’s a frenzy here that pulls you right in. Curator: The scene is so dynamic, capturing the moment Christ drives the merchants and money changers out of the Temple. Notice the classical architectural setting – yet everything feels… distorted, amplified. It creates a fascinating tension. Editor: Distorted is right. And those colours! The deep blues and vibrant reds, even in the shadows, they give everything a kind of unreal intensity. What's particularly striking is how El Greco renders the textures – look at the sheen on the fabrics and the roughness of the stonework. The labor, even in something divinely inspired, is apparent. Curator: It's certainly far from a straightforward biblical illustration. The figures, almost elongated, possess a profound emotional weight. Consider the expressions – anguish, anger, shock. They communicate a deeper psychological truth. Editor: The theatrical poses, too, definitely evoke Mannerism. But there’s also an almost chaotic arrangement of the figures that, rather than diminishing the painting, focuses your attention right to the figure of Christ at the center of the hubbub. It also speaks to the complicated economy of indulgences at the time. Curator: A very charged painting indeed, filled with enduring symbolism and echoes resonating even now. Editor: Yes, one that makes you aware of the very materials and processes used to communicate religious narratives, past and present.