The controversial poster was commissioned by the church institution Consejo de Hermandades de Sevilla, which organizes the famous Easter processions. Jesus painted by the painter on a red background is dressed only in a loincloth, has fully developed muscles, does not look like he is suffering, does not have a crown of thorns on his head, and his wounds are closed. Shortly after the work was presented to the public, a fierce discussion broke out.
Too handsome Jesus? The Easter poster caused controversy
There were a lot of comments about the work on social media: people with more conservative views believed that it was simply inappropriate to show Jesus Christ after the resurrection. There were voices that the painter’s vision was definitely too modernist, and the figure itself was definitely too pretty, even indecently “sexualized,” according to some, reports AP News.
Salustiano Garcia Cruz’s painting caused so much controversy because in southern Spain Jesus is traditionally depicted as a suffering figure covered in blood. Meanwhile, in this case we see “an idealized, Neoplatonic image of Jesus, which is more in line with the tradition of the Italian Renaissance,” comments Artur Ramon for art expert.
– I would even say that this Jesus is to some extent feminine or even androgynous. Spain is still quite a homophobic country and many people do not like that Jesus was depicted in such a way on a poster promoting a festival that is supposed to celebrate the last moments of his life, adds Ramon. However, it is worth remembering that Spain was one of the first countries in the world to legalize same-sex marriage in 2005.
The author of the painting reacted to these accusations in an interview for the “El Mundo” newspaper: – Homosexual Jesus because he looks too cute and too handsome? Mercy! We live in the 21st century, said the artist. Atlas Agency, in turn, told: – There is nothing revolutionary in my painting. It is modern, but I placed elements used in sacred art over the last seven centuries. I don’t understand why people who criticize him don’t like him –
What’s more, the painter’s son, Horacio, posed for the painting. – All this surprised us very much, because we approached the project with full respect. Much controversy results from the fact that the model is too pretty, Christ too handsome and attractive – commented Garcia Jr. on the case. He also added that not all voices are critical and he also received many compliments and best wishes from people.
The Consejo de Hermandades de Sevilla, in turn, effectively ignores calls to replace the work with another one. In recent years, there have indeed been cases of withdrawing posters that promoted other religious events that were criticized by the public. The mayor of Seville believes that the whole thing is exaggerated. – I like this poster – he said and added that you can’t show the same works every year. – Some posters are more risky, others are more classic, and still others are provocative – he emphasized.
Art historian Morgan Haigh believes that “Baroque popes would have been delighted that the painting so much encouraged people to discuss what Jesus might or should not look like.” He also does not hide his surprise at the whole scandal, because “such an image of Jesus may not be something we often see today, but it does not differ in any particular way from what artists created in the past and what we see in the history of art. Biblical figures and saints often were depicted as attractive people, whether we are talking about paintings of a scantily clad Saint Sebastian pierced by arrows, a naked Mary Magdalene covered only by her hair, or the muscular torso of Christ sculpted by Michelangelo. He adds that Garcia’s painting resembles the image of the real Jesus to the same extent as the works of Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci or Titian.
Source: Gazeta
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