Christ the Redeemer, Study for Window, formerly at Center Church, New Haven c. 1899

Curator: John La Farge created this watercolor study, titled "Christ the Redeemer, Study for Window, formerly at Center Church, New Haven." Editor: It's quite ethereal, almost dreamlike. The figure seems to emerge from the hazy blue depths. Curator: La Farge, born in 1835, was deeply interested in the interplay of light and color, particularly in his stained-glass work. This study really highlights that preoccupation. Editor: You can see the layering of the pigment. It gives a sense of luminosity to the robe and the background. I wonder what kind of paper he used, given the way the watercolor pools? Curator: Given the social context of religious art at the time, I think La Farge is aiming to present an image of Christ that is not just divine but also deeply human, almost vulnerable. Editor: It makes me think about the labor and material processes that went into creating stained glass and how these works are designed for public worship. Curator: Considering its original function, this small study serves as a reminder of the broader social and religious functions art can perform. Editor: And understanding the material constraints and choices of the artist gives us a fuller sense of the historical conditions of its making.