Saint John the Evangelist; verso: Study of a Hand c. 1843

Editor: So, this is Camille-Auguste Gastine's "Saint John the Evangelist; verso: Study of a Hand." It feels very classical, almost like a Roman sculpture study, but there's also something unfinished about it. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see an exploration of power dynamics inherent in religious representation. Gastine, working in the mid-19th century, engages with centuries of artistic tradition, but how does he subtly challenge or reinforce existing hierarchies? Consider the male gaze, for example, and how the artist constructs it. Editor: The male gaze? Curator: Yes. How does Gastine's depiction of Saint John and the symbolic eagle uphold or subvert traditional notions of masculinity, divinity, and authority within the established church? The unfinished quality might even suggest an uncertainty, a questioning of these very constructs. Editor: That’s a whole different way to look at it. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. It's about questioning whose stories are told, and how.