The Last Supper 1784

Editor: Benjamin West's "The Last Supper" shows a pivotal scene. The dramatic lighting and the disciples' expressions are captivating. As an iconographer, what stands out to you in this piece? Curator: The emotional weight carried by this scene has been interpreted countless times. Note how West departs from tradition. Where is Judas? What does this absence signify, psychologically and theologically, for the remaining figures? Editor: That's a good question, but I don't know. Curator: Exactly! It invites us to consider the individual burdens of faith, guilt, and doubt within a community facing impending crisis. What do you think? Editor: I appreciate how the missing figure changes the emotional landscape of the painting. Curator: Indeed. It transforms a narrative moment into a study of enduring human anxieties and allegiances.