Our culture is full of all kinds of things that appeal to our senses. Sometimes, we see a beautiful dance performance, a great painting, or a movie that moves us to tears because of its positive message.
Yet there’s a caveat: Not everything we experience leaves us with a sense of catharsis. Sometimes, we experience something that leaves our soul feeling impure, and we ask ourselves: “Why did I even engage with this?” This question is important because it acknowledges our responsibility and discernment for what we “consume.”
Hans Memling and ‘Allegory with a Virgin’
I was looking at a painting by Northern Renaissance artist Hans Memling called “Allegory with a Virgin,” and I thought about discernment. On the surface, the painting depicts three figures: a woman and two lions. The landscape is thought to be a later addition and will not be discussed here.
Eric Bess
Author
Eric Bess, Ph.D., is a fine artist, a writer on art-related topics, and an assistant professor at Fei Tian College in Middletown, New York.
