Another Contemporary Christian Illustration That "Works"

4/12/2022

The Resurrection of Jesus, Keith Reicher, 2009

Continuing the theme of contemporary Christian illustrations that work . . .

Most traditional depictions of the resurrection of Jesus feature Christ facing the viewer as He emerges from the tomb. Reicher goes against this convention by changing the viewpoint. Jesus has His back to the viewer, and the viewer has to "look up" up toward Jesus as He ascends the steps toward the light that marks the exit of the tomb.

I find Reicher's non-traditional viewpoint quite captivating. In addition to the dramatic effect, the image "feels" much closer to the core of Jesus's mission -- he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life . . .

7 Comments

David Llewellyn Dodds

4/13/2022 05:54:06

Thanks for this! And, well observed! It makes me think of a couple things - a whole tradition of 'footsteps' references, perhaps most widely known today from Neale's Carol 'Good King Wenceslas' - and the Biblical origins of which I have not thought about enough...

And, a new perspective on the 'Harrowing of Hell' iconography - probably most widely known today from Orthodox icons: here, we have a perspective like the Old Testament saints - following Jesus Whose Soul and Body are now reunited up out of the realm of death - recalling also Psalm 68 (Septuagint and Vulgate 67), especially as quoted by St. Paul in the Letter to the Ephesians chapter 4 - in which context, the sole of His right foot also echoes the traditional iconography of the Ascension, where the last glimpse is of the soles of His feet.

David Llewellyn Dodds

4/23/2022 05:33:55

More Biblical 'foot' imagery occurs to me - Psalm 91 (Septuagint and Vulgate 90) from which the devil ironically quoted part in the temptation in the desert, but which part is followed by "Thou shalt walk upon the asp and the basilisk: and thou shalt trample under foot the lion and the dragon" (Challoner Douay-Rheims), and Psalm 110 (Septuagint and Vulgate 109), which is taken up by St. Paul in the First Letter Corinthians, chapter 15: "he must reign, until he hath put all his enemies under his feet. And the enemy death shall be destroyed last: For he hath put all things under his feet" - which is taken up in the Orthodox Easter liturgy: "Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and to those in the tombs He has given life" - and here in the painting are the soles of those feet which have trampled down death by death.

John Venlet link

4/13/2022 21:04:26

I like this too, Francis, it does accentuate ascension to the Light of the World. Art that though it is thinking outside the box, so to speak, which has lit inside the box with an arc light.

Michelle

4/14/2022 03:09:16

Forgive me if this sounds unsophisticated, but when I saw this painting it reminded me of an (american) football quarterback walking down a corridor for a big game or a musician walking to take the stage. It kind of makes me want to say "go get 'em Jesus! Show them whose boss!"

Francis Berger

4/14/2022 05:37:13

@ Michelle - These sorts of modern associations are to be expected. Perhaps the artist was even influenced by something of that nature, but I hope the image conveys more than just that!

Lady Mermaid link

4/14/2022 03:17:38

This is so beautiful. I'm rereading the Gospel of John or Fourth Gospel and the theme of everlasting life is so poignant. We desperately need the truth conveyed from this image more than ever in our world today.

Francis Berger

4/14/2022 05:43:29

@ Lady Mermaid - The thing that strikes me most about the Fourth Gospel - in addition to its "simple" message - is the personal element. Too many Christians obsess over the fate of Western civilization, society, nations, etc. without considering what Jesus actually focused on in His mission.

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Another Contemporary Christian Illustration That "Works"

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