Religious art is very powerful. This is because while it is just an image, the image can contain in itself a great amount of knowledge. For example, what is going on in Diego Velazquez's image of Christ in the house of Martha and Mary? The old woman is gesturing to the young woman to look at the scene before them and reflect on it. The old woman must be near death, due to her age. The young woman is working. In the story of Martha and Mary, Martha is occupied with her work. Mary acts like a simple girl and stops everything to listen to Christ. Which sister does was the wiser/more just?
Another image I have been interested is the the Lover Tarot card, and the connection of that card to the card the Devil. Notice how the first portrays the house of earthly delights, and the next a twisted vision of the same thing. This is very powerful. It says a lot about the relationship between men and women, and the end of physical experience. What objects are connected to each gender? Ultimately, both cards are depicting something true.
