Catholic Art Blog

Christ in the Desert at the Dawning of the Day

by Patrick Werick February 15, 2014

Face of Jesus

 

Russian artist Ivan Kramskoi painted this profoundly cold and lonely version of Christ in the Wilderness in 1872. Jesus sits in solitude on a cold boulder as the dawn begins to break. His folded hands and pensive expression suggest He's just passed the night in prayer and fasting. It's interesting to see that a garment wraps His arms, suggesting a chilly outdoor temperature, while His feet remain bare — they must be freezing! 

 

Jesus Sitting on Rock

 

The cold rocks and cooler colors of the entire composition ideally helps place the viewer into a similar state of isolation, penance and prayer. Everything in the artwork enables us to focus more on Our Lord and His suffering for mankind. But not to end in despair, we see a bit of color in the distant sunrise. The grace of God, as the dawning of the day, will come again to warm the soul. 

Our Lord's Bare Feet


Patrick Werick
Patrick Werick

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