Clerical saint pointing upwards 1625 - 1715

Curator: Today, we're looking at an intriguing piece from the SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst, entitled "Clerical saint pointing upwards". It is attributed to an anonymous artist and dates roughly between 1625 and 1715. Editor: Well, first off, there's a kind of ghostly grace to it. Like seeing a figure emerge from a sepia-toned dream. A saint with opinions, it seems. Or maybe giving directions. Curator: Indeed. It's a drawing, utilizing pencil and perhaps some etching techniques to create a study, most likely, of a Baroque figure. Note the upward gesture, the focus on the saint’s face and draping robes. Editor: That upward reach feels really dramatic. It makes me wonder, what's he pointing at? Is he praising something? Accusing something? Or maybe it's just...dust bunnies on the ceiling of Heaven? The folds in his robes though— those have such lovely movement. Curator: Semiotically speaking, the gesture is the key here. It suggests aspiration, transcendence, or divine intervention. The very conscious use of line weight dictates where we should direct our eyes to focus our attention. His gaze seems knowing, almost like he is one of us looking out at ourselves. Editor: True. He's not just a pretty face, even in faded pencil lines! He looks like he is about to give us all a hard truth or share a secret whispered from on high. Gives me the shivers a bit. He’s kind of scolding but sympathetic all at once. Curator: Considering the period in which it was created, it resonates within an era grappling with faith, discovery, and shifting power dynamics. This artwork allows us a direct link to contemplate such questions with our Baroque counterpart. Editor: Looking at it now, the incompleteness adds to the mystery. What parts were considered most crucial? What was added versus discarded? A divine Mad Libs where we fill in the gaps ourselves! Curator: An astute observation. It serves as a potent reminder that meaning resides as much in the absence as it does in the presence of what we observe. Editor: Makes you wonder about the untold stories behind the art, doesn’t it? Each stroke, each direction, points to a whole world of its own. Curator: Indeed. An exploration into historical consciousness through an exercise in artistic method. Thank you for that interpretation. Editor: Anytime! You can find me staring up at random spots in ceilings now… for inspiration!