Saint Afra of Augsburg (fol. XCV v) 1497

Curator: This is an image of Saint Afra of Augsburg. This anonymous work appears in a book, and it resides at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The severe linework and compressed composition give this a claustrophobic, yet pious mood. Curator: As you can see, Saint Afra is depicted with a halo, identifying her as a saint, and she is shown reading, perhaps indicating her wisdom or devotion to scripture. Editor: I'm interested in how the black ink and the surrounding text frame and almost confine her. The artist situates Afra as a convert from a former life into something new. Curator: Right, and the surrounding text details her story, enriching our reading of the image itself. Editor: I appreciate how the artist combines visual and textual elements to tell a story about transformation and faith. Curator: Indeed, this work allows us to reflect on the intersection of image and text in conveying religious narratives.