Fragment with the Transfiguration of Christ (Resurrection) c. 1515 - 1520

Jan Joest painted this fragment with the Transfiguration of Christ, likely in Germany, around the turn of the 16th century. It's an oil on panel, a common medium at the time, and represents a pivotal moment in Christian theology: Christ's divine revelation. But consider the social context. The Church was a powerful institution. Artists relied on its patronage but were also subtly shaping religious understanding. How does Joest portray Christ? Not as a distant, severe judge, but with a gentle, almost human face. This reflects a shift towards more personal piety that was gaining ground in Northern Europe, challenging the established church hierarchy. To truly understand this work, we would need to examine not only the artist's biography and artistic influences but also the religious and social movements of the time. What theological debates were happening? How did people experience religion in their daily lives? These are the questions that social art historians ask, reminding us that art is never made in a vacuum.