Saint John the Baptist Preaching to the People c. 19th century

Curator: This print captures Conte Carlo Lasinio's interpretation of "Saint John the Baptist Preaching to the People," housed right here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: There’s a stillness that arrests me; the hatching marks give everyone a solemn, statuesque quality. It almost feels like witnessing a staged performance. Curator: Note how Lasinio utilizes visual cues to impart narrative depth. John's raised hand, a classic gesture of oration, guides the viewer's eye through the varied expressions of his audience. Editor: And that the figures in the background are less defined, it gives a sense of mass production and the labor needed to get the word out to the people. Curator: Absolutely, it speaks to the dissemination of spiritual truths through visual representation, influencing the collective consciousness of the time. Editor: Thinking about the materials, a print allows for duplication, which is inherently about democratization and access. A fascinating interplay of message and medium!