Painting: Jesustein (The Passion of)

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Artist's Statement

This painting was a three-year journey, nurtured by years of contemplation. It transcends religion to celebrate our shared humanity

Faith, in its essence, is profoundly beautiful—the act of believing itself. Regardless of the deity one worships (with over 3,000 to choose from), or even if one subscribes to no deity at all, humanity remains the common thread. We are all inherently human, subject to the myriad emotions and experiences that define us.

In this piece, Jesus dons a yarmulke. Not as a statement of religious syncretism or to challenge established beliefs, but as a symbol of peace, tolerance, and universal human experiences—love, doubt, hope, humor, pain, and humility. All take time to develop, as it took the painter time to fine-tune the kippah. Each one of the painting's attributes (shapes, colors, themes, etc.) and details, including the meticulously arrived at kippah, embodies these themes.

All religions have their merits, provided they do not advocate violence. Similarly, atheism is a valid belief system. Whether it's the Quran, Torah, Talmud, Bible, Kabbalah, Tripitaka, Vedas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, the “forest” or “wilderness” texts, Upanishads, or any other sacred text, each offers profound wisdom and insight. The painter has immersed himself in the study of these texts, recognizing their universal value. Nowhere is it written in the Quran that a single Muslim should harm a single Jew, or anywhere in the Torah that a single Jew shall harm a single Muslim. Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs, and all other religious affiliations, welcome all the same!

This piece is not about religion; it's about humanity. It's a reminder that despite our differences, we share a common humanity that transcends borders and beliefs. From Gaza to New York, from Jerusalem to Shanghai, from Tehran to Tokyo, humanity unites us all. May science help, but itself recognize it may not be enough to channel everything human, so powerfully complex are individuals, be they from Paris to Mumbai, from Oslo to Moscow, from Buenos Aires to Rome, from Madrid to Berlin or Melbourne. 

And in the realm of art, we find a powerful expression of our shared humanity.

 

Medium

Oil on Canvas, 48''x48''

Signaletics

Jesustein (The Passion of) is a 2006-2009 painting by Frederic Marsanne, the leading artist in the house where he lives... Frederic has exhibited at MKL GALLERY in Somerville, MA, Ambassador Galleries in Soho, NY, and was chosen to exhibit in a juried show at the New Rochelle Art Association Annual in New Rochelle, NY.

Style, Themes, Techniques

Jesustein (The Passion of)" delves into the realms of the representational, the narrative, and, through abstraction, the psychological. Frederic Marsanne employs a substantial application of oil to canvas to chronicle his experiences. Within the weighty brushstrokes, one discovers insights into his family's history during World War II, his travels, and the impact of world politics on his ideals of freedom, justice, and democracy. Marsanne, fascinated by the interplay of world history and political dynamics with the creative process, whimsically integrates a dual vision into his paintings, reflecting the multifaceted nature of artistic interpretation. As the artist jests, isn't there both a left and a right side in any artwork?

In his contributions to the Religion show (organized by MKL Gallery in Somerville, MA, USA in 2015), Marsanne draws from firsthand experiences of sociological divergence and the intricate balance of world religions to create art that brings paradoxes to the surface. His representational paintings are transformed through dynamic, expressive oil techniques, prompting viewers to delve into their own attitudes and emotions about this complex subject matter. Jesustein encapsulates the dichotomy between Christianity and Judaism at the historical juncture of their divergence, symbolized by the portrayal of Christ on the cross wearing a yarmulke. Through a blend of humor and the sublime, Marsanne invites contemplation on the role of religion in contemporary society and speculation about humanity's spiritual trajectory.

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