Christ Among the Elders c. 19th century

William B. Closson created this print, "Christ Among the Elders," sometime around the turn of the 20th century. The image depicts a young Jesus in conversation with learned men, an episode from the Gospels that speaks to the social hierarchy of knowledge and authority. The print, made in America, gains meaning when viewed in the context of the late 19th century. Here, the American Protestant establishment still held considerable sway over cultural and intellectual life. Religious subjects were common, but often interpreted to convey moral lessons applicable to contemporary society. In Closson’s print, the boy Christ’s calm, collected demeanor implicitly challenges the established order of elders. He stands for a new, more progressive era, one which elevates the young and questions tradition. To understand this artwork better, we might consider the role of religious imagery in American art of this period. We may also need to examine theological debates of the time to fully grasp the nuances of Closson’s composition. Art, after all, is not made in a vacuum, but in response to the society in which the artist lives.