Saint Justina c. 16th century

Curator: Let's look at this anonymous woodcut, dating back to perhaps the 15th or 16th century, depicting Saint Justina. The scene shows her about to be beheaded. Editor: Oh, wow. There's a grim theatricality to the piece. The executioner is very dramatic, almost comical, juxtaposed with the saint's serene acceptance. Curator: The stark contrast is striking. Woodcuts, you know, were a relatively accessible print medium. This image would have been widely circulated, reinforcing Justina’s narrative. It highlights the material conditions of religious devotion. Editor: It's more than devotion, I think; it’s the stark depiction of violence, rendered almost palatable. I can’t quite put my finger on it. Curator: Perhaps it's the way the rough, almost primitive lines convey the brutality of martyrdom, but softened by the devotional text surrounding it? Editor: Perhaps. It's compelling, and a little unsettling. The composition keeps pulling me in different emotional directions.