The Peace of the Holy Family c. 18th century

Editor: This is Anton Heinrich Riedel's "The Peace of the Holy Family." It seems to depict a moment of quiet and tenderness. What do you see in this work? Curator: It’s crucial to examine the historical context of representing the Holy Family. In Riedel’s time, such depictions often served to reinforce patriarchal structures and idealized, often unattainable, standards of domesticity. Editor: How so? Curator: Consider the positioning of Joseph in the background, almost as a protector figure. Mary is central, yet her agency is subtly curtailed by the societal expectations placed upon her as a mother. Editor: So, is Riedel reinforcing those expectations? Curator: It’s worth asking if he’s merely reflecting his era or subtly critiquing it. The very title, “Peace,” might hint at a yearning for something beyond the social realities of his time. Thank you, I have learned something new. Editor: Me too.