A New Renaissance: The Resurgence of Sacred Art
Image Courtesy: Selah Hassel
It is hard to ignore the gradual desensitization of religious art in recent years. From the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s 2018 Met Gala, Heavenly Bodies, to Lady Gaga’s music videos, and in more current projects such as Ethel Cain's “Preachers daughter,” religious symbolism, once again, is becoming romanticized, seeping into the fashion, art, and music that shapes Gen Z’s culture.
I was recently scrolling on the platform X and came across a post that captured my interest. It was a simple question, one that I believe has been circulating, yet has hardly been brought up because of the risk that it might sound slightly absurd: “What makes Catholicism so chic as a visual concept?” A simple answer would be the timeless blend of church architecture, religious imagery like the Virgin Mary, the use of candles and incense, and the fashion elements associated with traditional Catholic attire like lace, head coverings, and cross necklaces.
In terms of modern concepts, think Jean Paul Gaultier, wooden crosses, crucified Jesus hung on bedroom walls, Virgin Mary, or the entire dark and brooding aesthetic surrounding grand Duomos. Religious art is slowly becoming something experienced in a new paradox. To answer this broad and slightly ridiculous question, one must look deeper into the expansive history of religious aesthetics. Where did they come from, and how are they still around despite the amount of progression surrounding institutionalized religion?
Image Courtesy: Selah Hassel
In the summer of 2023 I visited Milan, Italy and more specifically, the Duomo di Milano. A friend of my mom and I, who lived in the city, came along and gave us a little bit of context to the art inside and out of the cathedral. The building alone was enough to force a sense of insignificance to our lives when standing in front of the daunting architecture dating back to 1365 and is still in the process of completion. The idea is that there is one, epic cathedral to center a generalized area, reminding the people of the importance of religion. According to the site, Good Catholic, “Beautiful art causes us to marvel; it makes us hope for more and aspire to become better people. Beauty points to the divine—all the more reason why sacred art’s purpose is to stir the soul.” The resilience of effort to maintain and restore the building emulates this idea that art and beauty are as important to religion as faith is. Being face to face with religious art leaves you with a sense of terror, the sense that was attempted for the institution's gain in respect. The irony is that in modern times, Bella Hadid's face is plastered amongst the gargoyles and gothic architecture for the annual fashion week.
Image Courtesy: Selah Hassel
This perspective on sacred art underscores its enduring relevance in contemporary culture, reflecting a resurgence of religious imagery as a means of grappling existentialism. Whether as a critique or an expression of faith, such imagery serves as a conduit for exploring the divine and elevating the human experience. By adapting to modern contexts, sacred art continues to bridge past and present tastes. This offers a space for reflection, spiritual inquiry, and cultural dialogue. Is there a new and growing respect for sacred art? Is it respect or disrespect? When religious traditions in art find new ways to stay relevant and somehow also remain modern, it leaves us with echoes of Renaissance philosophy, humanism. I believe that the movement for human potential in respect to studying classical art is growing in today's society, possibly causing a new wave of social awakening and gravitation toward the divine.
Strike Out,
Selah Hassel
Editor: Maya Kayyal
Saint Augustine
Selah Hassel is a content writer for Strike Magazine. She has a passion for travel, spending much of her time reading, writing, or collecting comfort objects.You can find her on instagram, @Selah.eve.
