The White Crucifixion
Encyclopedia
The White Crucifixion
is a painting by Marc Chagall
. It was painted in 1938 after Chagall had visited Europe, and can be viewed at the Art Institute of Chicago
.
and the Jewish people. At the sides violent acts against Jews occur such as the burning of a synagogue and invaders. And in the center, Jesus is shown crucified wearing a prayer shawl as a symbol that he is Jewish. The work is startling as the crucifixion, often seen as a symbol of oppression by the Jewish people, is instead being used to represent their suffering.
A green figure carrying a bundle is shown crossing the foreground. This figure, who appears in several of Chagall's works, has been interpreted as being either a Jewish wanderer from Yiddish tradition or the Prophet Elijah.
Two changes were made by Chagall to the work, a swastika
on the armband of the soldier burning the synagogue was overpainted as well as the words "Ich bin Jude" on a placard around the neck of a man.
There is also a Lithuanian flag in the upper right hand of the painting. Lithuania at this time was still an independent state. There was no shortage of anti-Semitism in Lithuania also. Also, in the upper left hand portion of the painting there are the red flags of communism. Persecution of the Jews was not just a Nazi phenomena.
Crucifixion
Crucifixion is an ancient method of painful execution in which the condemned person is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross and left to hang until dead...
is a painting by Marc Chagall
Marc Chagall
Marc Chagall Art critic Robert Hughes referred to Chagall as "the quintessential Jewish artist of the twentieth century."According to art historian Michael J...
. It was painted in 1938 after Chagall had visited Europe, and can be viewed at the Art Institute of Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of America's largest accredited independent schools of art and design, located in the Loop in Chicago, Illinois. It is associated with the museum of the same name, and "The Art Institute of Chicago" or "Chicago Art Institute" often refers to either...
.
Summary
The white crucifixion painting emphasizes the suffering of JesusJesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
and the Jewish people. At the sides violent acts against Jews occur such as the burning of a synagogue and invaders. And in the center, Jesus is shown crucified wearing a prayer shawl as a symbol that he is Jewish. The work is startling as the crucifixion, often seen as a symbol of oppression by the Jewish people, is instead being used to represent their suffering.
A green figure carrying a bundle is shown crossing the foreground. This figure, who appears in several of Chagall's works, has been interpreted as being either a Jewish wanderer from Yiddish tradition or the Prophet Elijah.
Two changes were made by Chagall to the work, a swastika
Swastika
The swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form in counter clock motion or its mirrored left-facing form in clock motion. Earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient...
on the armband of the soldier burning the synagogue was overpainted as well as the words "Ich bin Jude" on a placard around the neck of a man.
There is also a Lithuanian flag in the upper right hand of the painting. Lithuania at this time was still an independent state. There was no shortage of anti-Semitism in Lithuania also. Also, in the upper left hand portion of the painting there are the red flags of communism. Persecution of the Jews was not just a Nazi phenomena.
External links
- Painting details at the Art Institute of Chicago
- Image