Saint John Nepomuk (?) c. 18th century

Editor: This is a drawing of Saint John Nepomuk (?), by Johann Evangelist Holzer. It’s a delicate little thing, but something about the figure’s posture strikes me as very staged. What do you make of its message? Curator: I think that "staged" is a very astute observation. Consider the market for devotional images in the 18th century. The Church was a major patron, and the aim was not just piety, but also propagating specific ideals of Catholic power. Editor: So, the artist is presenting an ideal, not necessarily reality? Curator: Precisely. Think about who controlled the narrative then, and what purpose such images served in reinforcing that control. Does knowing that change how you see the piece? Editor: It does. It feels less like a personal moment and more like a public statement. Curator: Exactly. Art is rarely created in a vacuum.