Jesus
My alterations (within this body of prints) to the image of Jesus Christ would be taken out of context if considered a direct attack on Christianity or religion, and I have not created these prints to promote any type of extreme agenda.
This portrayal of Christ is already a controversial image; in that it has been altered and taken out of its original context, an 1892 oil painting by Léon Augustin Lhermitte titled “Friend of the Humble” (Supper at Emmaus), by Warner Sallman. In 1940 Sallman made a reproduction of the Lhermitte painting, cropping the head of Christ and titling it simply “Head of Christ.” He never admitted to the plagiarism of this image in his life time but the likeness is obvious.
There also is controversy surrounding typical depictions of Christ in Western culture. There is an element of racism projected through the Americanization of Christ’s image with a light skin tone, blondish-brown hair and blue eyes. Historians assert that his actual image would more closely resemble that of a Middle Eastern man from Jerusalem, with dark skin and dark eyes, as opposed to the image many Americans are accustomed to – that of a white Anglo Saxon.
My Jesus print series is meant to challenge the ideas of worshipping mass production and trying to raise questions about the idea that an entity named “Satan” has in fact tricked the world into believing in and worshipping this idealized depiction of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The duality of the satanic skull and the visage of Christ is simply how I envision this prophet; as both a holy man and a cursed figure. As the bible warns us to beware of false prophets; I have created a highly aesthetic and yet subtle image to allude to this warning as the glitter encrusted screen print reflects the light. Now and then you can see the satanic horned figure lurking above Jesus. I am simply adding my own interpretations to this iconic depiction of Jesus Christ.
This portrayal of Christ is already a controversial image; in that it has been altered and taken out of its original context, an 1892 oil painting by Léon Augustin Lhermitte titled “Friend of the Humble” (Supper at Emmaus), by Warner Sallman. In 1940 Sallman made a reproduction of the Lhermitte painting, cropping the head of Christ and titling it simply “Head of Christ.” He never admitted to the plagiarism of this image in his life time but the likeness is obvious.
There also is controversy surrounding typical depictions of Christ in Western culture. There is an element of racism projected through the Americanization of Christ’s image with a light skin tone, blondish-brown hair and blue eyes. Historians assert that his actual image would more closely resemble that of a Middle Eastern man from Jerusalem, with dark skin and dark eyes, as opposed to the image many Americans are accustomed to – that of a white Anglo Saxon.
My Jesus print series is meant to challenge the ideas of worshipping mass production and trying to raise questions about the idea that an entity named “Satan” has in fact tricked the world into believing in and worshipping this idealized depiction of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The duality of the satanic skull and the visage of Christ is simply how I envision this prophet; as both a holy man and a cursed figure. As the bible warns us to beware of false prophets; I have created a highly aesthetic and yet subtle image to allude to this warning as the glitter encrusted screen print reflects the light. Now and then you can see the satanic horned figure lurking above Jesus. I am simply adding my own interpretations to this iconic depiction of Jesus Christ.
