The Virgin of the Sea 

Perry Oliver made this print, "The Virgin of the Sea," sometime in the 20th century. It depicts a group of men struggling to move a large, elaborate statue into a small boat. The scene suggests a procession, perhaps religious in nature. But what is the public role of this art? The imagery evokes a traditional, perhaps even old-fashioned, way of life. Consider the cultural and historical associations with maritime communities. Are they conservative or progressive? How might religious institutions play a role in those communities? As an art historian, I’m interested in the social conditions that shape artistic production. Analyzing an image like this, I might consult local historical archives, religious records, and accounts of maritime traditions to better understand its cultural context. What does it tell us about the politics of imagery?