c. 1900-1905
The Savior
Henry Ossawa Tanner
Jesus sits in quiet contemplation, with lowered head and clasped hands. Tanner treats Him as a physically present and psychologically convincing person. Subdued colors and a l…
Jesus in Art: The Twentieth-Century Christ
« Back to The Face of Jesus Through the Centuries
AD 1901-2000
The twentieth century brought both mass familiarity and remarkable diversity to images of Jesus. Widely reproduced devotional portraits reinforced the conventional bearded, long-haired Western Christ. At the same time, modern artists explored expressionism, abstraction, unusual viewpoints, and new cultural interpretations. Christian communities around the world increasingly represented Jesus in ways that spoke to their own histories and visual traditions.
Artistic Developments
Warner Sallman's Head of Christ helped popularize a recognizable devotional face in the United States. Georges Rouault used dark outlines and expressive color to communicate suffering and compassion; Salvador Dali reimagined the Crucifixion from a startling viewpoint. Artists in Africa, Asia, and Latin America employed local forms, dress, and features to express the universality of Christ's significance. No single modern style replaced earlier imagery: inherited icons, popular prints, and experimental works circulated simultaneously.Historical Context
Photography, cinema, posters, television, and inexpensive color reproduction brought images of Jesus to unprecedented audiences. Global Christianity grew increasingly diverse, and artists questioned the assumption that European conventions should define Christ's appearance everywhere. Wars, social upheaval, ecumenical movements, and debates about cultural identity all shaped Christian visual expression. Many twentieth-century works consciously challenged earlier artistic expectations.Artwork from This Period
6 depictions, arranged chronologically where dating is available.
1908-1914
Christ Not Made by Hands
The title suggests the traditional image of the face of Christ known in Eastern Christianity as the Image Not Made by Hands. The surviving reproduction must be examined before…
20th century
Face crucified Christ, 20th century
The title indicates a close treatment of the crucified Jesus, emphasizing his face. The actual reproduction should be examined before making claims about expression, technique…
1951
Christ of Saint John of the Cross
Salvador Dali
Christ is viewed dramatically from above, his head bowed and his body suspended on a cross over a calm coastal landscape. The customary blood, nails, and crown of thorns are a…
1953
The Holy Face (Georges Rouault)
Georges Rouault
Rouault's Holy Face compositions often use strong contours, dense color, and a frontal or nearly frontal face recalling stained glass and devotional icons. These general chara…
1999
Jesus of the People
Janet McKenzie
Christ is presented frontally with dark skin and an intentionally inclusive appearance. The composition includes symbols drawn from different cultural traditions. The work cha…
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