Fotoreproductie van fresco De hemelvaart van Maria, Appartemente Borgia, Vaticaan c. 1885 - 1910

Curator: Looking at this black and white photogravure from between 1885 and 1910… it’s a reproduction of a fresco. “The Assumption of Mary” from the Borgia Apartments in the Vatican. It feels heavy, almost like a stage backdrop for a rather somber play. Editor: Yes, and it speaks to the historical weight imbued in Renaissance depictions of the Madonna. We see her surrounded by angels, ascending heavenward while figures below gaze up in awe. The original fresco would have been bursting with color, adding another layer to its interpretation. Curator: Absolutely! I keep wondering what it would feel like to stand there. Imagine being dwarfed by the real thing. All those eyes looking up, and this soft, heavenly glow around Mary… does it give you goosebumps or just me? Editor: Beyond the devotional aspect, consider the politics intertwined with such images. Commissioned for the Borgia Apartments, this fresco and its photographic reproductions were powerful visual statements. We have this ascendant, glorified figure while the patrons reinforce their legitimacy, aligning themselves with divine power through art. The church's projection of moral authority cannot be missed! Curator: That's so true. Art never just *is*, does it? It always wants to *say* something else, something trickier. I can’t help but wonder if they had any idea people like us would be picking it apart, centuries later! What would they think, all these power dynamics, religious statements… boiled down to two voices on an audio guide? Editor: They’d likely be scandalized but such examination helps us understand how narratives, particularly those of power and faith, are constructed and perpetuated. Even in a simple reproduction like this, those foundational ideologies resonate, prompting us to question their continued impact today. It's quite profound. Curator: Well said! It definitely leaves me with more questions than answers, that’s for sure. Thanks for making me look closer! Editor: The pleasure was all mine, it's important we continue these conversations to ensure that these artworks don’t become stagnant artifacts, and they continue to promote much needed societal discussion.