Entombment (first version) c. 1529

Editor: So, this is Parmigianino’s "Entombment (first version)." The date is unknown, but it's a print. There's a strong sense of grief. What’s your take on this image? Curator: Well, it’s impossible to ignore the body. The hyper-idealized, almost eroticized, male nude combined with this moment of grief… what societal power structures are at play when death, beauty, and the male form intersect in religious art? Editor: That's interesting. I hadn't considered that intersection. Curator: It's worth asking who had access to these images and whose stories were centered. Religious art has always been a tool, and Parmigianino's choices—intended or not—reveal a lot about the cultural landscape of his time. Editor: This makes me think differently about the piece. Thanks. Curator: Art is never created in a vacuum. Always question the "why."