Have You Still No Faith 1955

Editor: Here we have Corita Kent’s “Have You Still No Faith,” created in 1955 using mixed media and screenprinting. It has a raw, almost unsettling quality. What historical narratives or contextual factors do you see informing this work? Curator: Well, considering its creation in the mid-1950s by a Catholic sister deeply engaged in social justice, it’s hard not to see this piece through the lens of postwar anxiety and burgeoning civil rights movements. The title itself, a direct quote from the Bible, poses a challenge, perhaps directed at societal institutions or individuals who lack faith in positive change. Editor: It definitely feels like a challenge! So, the Pop Art style, using accessible imagery, serves a political purpose here? Curator: Precisely. Kent utilized Pop Art's accessibility to engage with pressing social issues. Look at the composition – the figures are somewhat abstracted, almost like silhouettes, emphasizing universality and shared human experience. It suggests a historical painting turned protest banner. How does that interpretation sit with you? Editor: It makes sense. It doesn't just illustrate a biblical scene; it leverages it. I see her raising critical questions, perhaps using faith to address failures in societal trust. I never really thought about faith from a public trust point of view. Curator: And that reframing reflects Kent's work and mission—how art can publicly activate audiences. She definitely encourages us to contemplate faith, its presence, its absence, and its impact on community building. Editor: That is an important reminder, thank you. I see the socio-political element that exists so powerfully in this deceptively simple print.