The Doubting Thomas; Christ among his disciples, Saint Thomas touching Christ's wound, after Dürer 1495 - 1539

Curator: This engraving, "The Doubting Thomas," after Dürer, was created by Marcantonio Raimondi sometime between 1495 and 1539. It depicts the biblical scene of Christ revealing his wounds to Thomas. Editor: My first impression is one of intense curiosity, heightened by the stark contrast achieved with the engraving technique. The raking light creates an almost theatrical sense of drama. Curator: Absolutely. Raimondi, deeply influenced by the Renaissance, uses figuration to underscore faith's relationship to belief and seeing. This image can be interpreted through the lens of power dynamics: Thomas's skepticism and Christ's powerful reveal speaks volumes about visual authority. Editor: Right, and the materials play a crucial role. Think about the production of the print itself: the labor involved in engraving the metal plate, the repeated reproduction and consumption of the image. It brings the divine down to earth, makes it reproducible, almost a commodity. Curator: The choice of the subject too, aligns with emerging theological discussions about the Reformation; Raimondi provides the faithful a visual medium to strengthen and reflect their belief within social context. We see how identity and spirituality were shaped and negotiated through art of the period. Editor: Precisely! The medium allows for widespread distribution, shaping popular understanding of the gospel. This engraving isn't just a religious scene, it's an artifact tied directly to the political and religious tensions of its time. The lines that etch the forms are sharp but they make me consider what they represent with texture, labor, and the way the image circulates. Curator: The social and political are embedded deeply. Even today, contemplating Thomas’s demand for proof calls us to evaluate sources of authority and our relationship with faith. Editor: A powerful meditation then, on the intersection of faith, belief, and, dare I say it, production. Curator: It leaves you pondering both the miraculous and the manufacturing. Editor: Exactly, bridging the tangible and spiritual.