Saint James Major c. 1527 - 1530

Curator: Here we see “Saint James Major,” an unsigned print currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: There’s something very raw about it, almost like a sketch rather than a finished piece. The etched lines are so visible. Curator: Indeed. The printmaking process would have allowed for broader dissemination of this imagery. We must consider the social context of religious iconography. Editor: And the material realities of production. The tools, the plates, the paper—think of the labor involved. It's not just an image, but a crafted object. Curator: Exactly. It's about the intersection of craft, faith, and the politics of representation. Editor: It does have a striking presence, this Saint James Major. A testament to materials and beliefs intertwined.