The Penance of Saint John Chrysostom 1509

Curator: Lucas Cranach the Elder created this engraving, "The Penance of Saint John Chrysostom." Editor: What strikes me immediately is the density of the lines, creating a kind of dark and fertile enclosure. Curator: Indeed, Cranach has depicted the story of Chrysostom's alleged exile. He supposedly abandoned his post and lived as a hermit in the wilderness, suckling a baby. It raises fascinating questions about power and reputation. Editor: Right, the making of the myth, the labor of the line producing this fantastical scene. Look at the way the animals are rendered, alongside that very human scene of nursing. Curator: Yes, the positioning of the nude mother figure within nature, surrounded by the animals is important to consider alongside the societal constructs of the time. Editor: Absolutely, and I think engaging with the conditions of material production helps us unpack those very constructs. Curator: It's a reminder that even religious narratives are deeply entangled with social and political ideas. Editor: A fitting point to end on, as we consider the enduring impact of material realities on meaning.