Replica of the figure of Synagogue (c. 1220-30) from the south transept portal of Strasbourg Cathedral, France c. 1901 - 1903

Editor: This is a replica of the sculpture of Synagogue, made around 1220-30, that was originally part of the Strasbourg Cathedral. The figure is blindfolded and carries a broken staff. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The composition leads the eye downwards, mirroring her dejected posture. Note how the drapery, carved with sharp, vertical lines, emphasizes a sense of collapse and defeat. What semiotic weight do you ascribe to the broken staff and the blindfold? Editor: The broken staff could represent a loss of power, and the blindfold, perhaps, a lack of insight or understanding? Curator: Precisely. The sculptor uses these visual devices to communicate a specific theological argument about the state of Judaism in relation to Christianity. Editor: It’s amazing how much meaning can be conveyed through form and structure alone. Curator: Indeed. A keen awareness of these formal relationships deepens our comprehension.