Station of the Cross No. 9: Jesus Falls the Third Time c. 1936

Beulah Bradleigh created this watercolor titled 'Station of the Cross No. 9: Jesus Falls the Third Time', the date of which is unknown. The artist situates the viewer in the emotional and physical struggle of Jesus's journey to crucifixion. Bradleigh was a contemporary of the Harlem Renaissance, which saw an explosion of artistic and cultural expression of Black identity in America. Her work often highlighted themes of suffering and salvation through a distinctly Black lens. We see this in her choice to depict biblical scenes with figures who appear to be of diverse racial backgrounds, challenging the traditional Eurocentric portrayals of religious figures. Bradleigh invites us to consider the weight of repeated failures and the strength required to persevere. We see an alternative narrative where the imagery of the Passion is interwoven with the realities of racial identity, resilience, and the search for spiritual meaning. Bradleigh asks us to contemplate whose stories are told, whose bodies are represented, and whose experiences are valued in the narratives we inherit and create.