Saint Sebastian 18th-19th century

Editor: Here we have Giovanni Folo's "Saint Sebastian," housed in the Harvard Art Museums. It’s an engraving, and I’m struck by the vulnerability in Sebastian's pose, contrasted with the discarded armor beside him. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Consider the historical context. Sebastian, a Roman soldier martyred for his faith, became a symbol of resistance against oppressive power. The arrows, though instruments of pain, can also be viewed as phallic symbols, charged with homoerotic desire and subversion of gender norms. What does this suggest to you? Editor: I see how it challenges conventional masculinity through its portrayal of suffering and sensuality. Curator: Exactly. Folo's Saint Sebastian becomes a complex figure embodying faith, defiance, and queerness, reflecting broader struggles for identity and liberation. Editor: I hadn't considered that, it really brings a new perspective.