Christ and the Apostles 1827

Editor: Here we have Ferdinand Ruscheweyh's "Christ and the Apostles", an etching. The figure seems both weary and determined. How do you interpret the symbolism of his staff and halo within a socio-political context? Curator: This depiction, stripped bare, invites us to consider the performative aspects of holiness and leadership. The Apostle's poverty, signaled by his bare feet and simple garments, critiques opulence, while the staff suggests pilgrimage, a physical manifestation of struggle. Where does this image fit into conversations about power and the Church? Editor: That's interesting. It makes me think about current discussions about faith and social justice. Curator: Precisely! Ruscheweyh's Apostle invites us to question the role of religious figures in advocating for the marginalized, then and now.