Revisiting Christian Iconography asks the viewer to consider how traditional Christian artwork and iconography has changed across time. Scenes depicting the life of Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, or other New Testament references have been used for centuries in Western European art to inspire devotion. However, as artistic self-expression became more prevalent in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, artists such as Abraham Rattner and Marc Chagall used Biblical references to expand on universal themes. While rooted in tradition, these modern works challenge the imagination, encouraging reverence for the sacred and contemplation of the transcendent.
Image Credit:
Abraham Rattner (American, 1895 – 1978), Crucifixion in Yellow, 1953, Oil on Masonite, Gift of Genny, Clifford, and Robert Ayers in memory of Genevieve Schultz Ayers, AG.1987.7.1