Virgin and Angels Weeping over the Instruments of Christ's Torture c. 16th century

Editor: This is Virgin and Angels Weeping over the Instruments of Christ's Torture, by Elisabetta Sirani. It’s an etching, and it feels overwhelmingly sorrowful. What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: It's a potent visual commentary on grief and suffering. Sirani, a woman artist in 17th century Bologna, is centering female pain, inviting us to consider the Virgin's perspective. How does her representation challenge or reinforce existing power structures of the time, do you think? Editor: I never thought of it that way, but it makes sense that she would be expressing the Virgin's female pain more directly. Thank you, I've learned a lot! Curator: It's important to consider these historical nuances. I'm glad we could explore the socio-political context together.