Expulsion of Joachim and Anna from the Temple c. 1650

Editor: Here we have Jacques Stella's "Expulsion of Joachim and Anna from the Temple." It's a drawing, and the grayscale really emphasizes the figures. What do you make of the choices the artist made in depicting this scene? Curator: The drawing emphasizes the economic exchange inherent in religious ritual. Look at the animals brought for sacrifice. Stella is reminding us that faith is often intertwined with material offerings, with consumption, and frankly with labor. Editor: So you're saying the focus is less on the religious narrative itself, and more on the material culture surrounding it? Curator: Precisely! Consider the social context: who benefits from these transactions? What kind of system relies on these exchanges? It's a system of faith, but also a system of goods and services. Editor: That's a fascinating way to look at religious art. I'll definitely be thinking about that next time I see a similar piece.