Christ Appearing to Didymus (Thomas) before 1585

Curator: Hans Collaert the Elder gives us this vibrant and somewhat unsettling depiction of "Christ Appearing to Didymus," currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's certainly striking! The figures are so theatrical, and there's something almost lurid about those colors. The light seems harsh. Curator: Well, consider the context. Images like these in the 16th century served a very public function. They aimed to persuade as much as they did to depict. This image seeks to visualize the vulnerability of Christ’s resurrected body, to invite contemplation about the nature of belief. Editor: I get it, but it also feels like it’s selling something. It's using the sensational—Christ's wounds—to drive home a point. Is that really the best way to foster true faith? Curator: It’s a good question. The work reflects a society grappling with religious upheaval. Visual culture was a battleground, and artists like Collaert were essentially propagandists for their faith. Editor: Still, I find myself drawn to the raw emotion, the sheer humanity of Thomas reaching out. Maybe it’s a bit heavy-handed, but the intent, the desire to connect with something profound, is undeniably there. Curator: Perhaps that tension is what makes it so enduring. Editor: I suppose I can appreciate the picture both for its historical role and its artistic merit. It makes me see its significance with new eyes.