Despite my atheistic tendencies, it’d be churlish of me to ignore the art of Christmas whilst posting an art blog on Christmas Day itself. Besides, as I said last Christmas, I’m grateful for the holidays these observances give us all. There’s a lot to be said for the positive messages in all religions – caring for & looking after others, an emphasis on family, love & kindness are not to be sniffed at & when people observe these ideas, it makes the world better for everyone. Christmas itself brings out the best in lots of people; despite year-on-year moaning about commercialisation (bit late to be worrying about that, I feel & anyway, the Wise Men started it…) for those of us that do mark it in some form, we are forced to think of others. It’s an exceptionally difficult time for some & in general, people seem to have a collective understanding about that. Most of us care when faced with the thought of someone struggling during this particular period. Even if we only manage that once a year, it’s better than nothing. Plus, I do love a set of fairy lights.
Pieter Bruegel the Elder, The Census at Bethlehem (1566)
Christmas is also about the birth of hope & possible redemption & God’s translation of himself into something our puny human brains can comprehend. Believe me the art world is stuffed with Nativities, good, bad & mediocre from all over the globe & from various junctures over the past couple of millennia. What is striking about the images I’ve come across is how we all contextualise the story into our own surroundings, no matter where we live. & like all well-known stories & subjects, it provides artists with the chance to either say something about the message or show off their skills. Better still, both.
Mawalan Marika (Rirratjingu/Australia, 1908-1967), Nativity (c. 1960)
It’s not a Eurocentric nativity by any stretch of the imagination & is made from earth pigments on eucalyptus bark. Everything is drawn towards that star – it’s nice for a change to see other stars depicted!
Lorenzo Costa (Italy, 1460-1535), Nativity (1490)
Wherein the languor of Jesus is matched only by the misery of Joseph…
Kim Hueng Jong (Korea, 1928-), Christmas Scene (?)
It’s as if we’re getting a God’s eye view of proceedings in this nativity & it all appears to be happening at sundown rather than night time. Nevertheless there is a pleasing sense of community & people (& chickens) coming to be together for a special event.
El Greco (Greece, 1541-1614), The Nativity (1603)
El Greco’s Nativity is one of my favourites. It’s everything you’d expect but a little different. I love that rather than a halo or a star, there is light provided by a beam from above but the light on the adults seems to emanate from the baby himself.
Lu Lan (China, 1972-), Nativity (1994)
In this flat but well-composed image, pattern suggests different planes & the artist assumes the viewer knows the story. Not only are the star & manger represented, but a bag suggesting the flight from Egypt lies in the corner.
Georges de la Tour (France, 1593-1652), L’adoration des bergers (c. 1645)
As we’ve seen in previous blogs, de la Tour was a master at this chiaroscuro business. Once again, the light provided by the candle couldn’t illuminate all the figures to such an extent. The true Light is Jesus. Jesus, who appears worryingly inanimate in this work…
P. Solomon Raj (India, 1921-2019), Nativity (1980s)
If you’ve ever tried batik, you’ll appreciate how fiddly & awkward this image must have been to make.
Father John Battista Giuliani (Italian American, 1932-2021), Nazareth (?)
Fr John died at the beginning of this year. He painted icons & in particular focused on the native groups & nations of people from what is now the USA in their traditional dress. In my opinion, there is a peculiar theological distortion in many of his works; people with their own religions, beliefs & ideas are turned into icons for Christianity by a white Catholic priest.
He Qi (China, 1951-), Nativity (1998)
The nativity gets a contemporary Cubist makeover. As his work covers many Christian scenes, I think his art would make an amazing illustrated children’s Bible.
James B Janknegt (USA), Nativity (1995)
Janknegt’s work centres on Christian themes & subjects within modern American contexts. It’s quite a fresh, clean representation but why is there someone digging the garden…?
Francis Musango (Uganda, 1931-2005), Nativity (?)
An art teacher & priest, Musango is credited with developing art education & creating an art curriculum in Uganda.
Carravagio (Italy, 1571-1610), Nativity with St Francis & St Lawrence (1600)
Monty Python has ruined paintings like this. No matter how well painted, the angel is nose-diving into that manger.
Greg Weatherby (Australia, 1942), Dreamtime Birth (1990)
Again, the context of a well-known story explains the painting. I especially like the showering of light by God’s hands down on the Holy Family.
Hiroshi Tabata (Japan, ?), Nativity (1998)
There’s a Chagall quality to this nativity. The tiny details around the central image are worth a zoom in.
Paul Gauguin (France, 1848-1903), Te tamari no atua: The Birth of Christ (1896)
As ever with Gauguin, the attention is on the woman. But there’s a gentleness to the depiction of Mary, despite her struggles. The background animals & the women caring for her & the baby are quiet & calm before any visitors are received.
Giorgione (Italy c.1477/78-1510), The Adoration of the Shepherds (c. 1505-1510)
What I like best about Giorgione’s nativity is the acknowledgement of stone. It’s unlikely Joseph & Jesus were carpenters but rather stonemasons as there’s apparently very little in the way of timber around Nazareth.
Piero della Francesca (Italy c. 1415/20-1492), The Nativity (1470-75)
If Jesus had been born in Tuscany. Its heavily damaged state has the amusing effect of looking as if the son of God has been chucked on a rug.
Azaria Mbatha (South Africa, 1941-), The Birth of Christ (1964)
One of the best things about the differing contexts of nativity art is the variety of animals in attendance. In this amazing linocut there’s even an elephant & a lion.
Stanley Spencer (England, 1891-1959), The Nativity (1912)
Christmas in Cookham. Again Joseph is sidelined. Spencer made a good point when he said that the liaison between Mary & Joseph was an interesting one, describing it as “one of those unbearable relationships between men & women.”
Geertgen tot Sint Jans (Netherlands, 1465-1495), The Nativity at Night (c. 1490)
Apparently the idea of depicting Jesus as the source of light stems from the visions of St Bridget of Sweden. She also witnessed him lying on the ground in her visions.
Unknown Artist, Nativity Scene in Cappella Palatina, Palermo (c. 1150)
Part of a series of mosaics situated in the Palatine Chapel in Palermo, here is the nativity & where it is placed. I’d guess John the Baptist is the child at the bottom right & perhaps another fed-up looking Joseph bottom left...
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