Christ Preaching at Capernaum 1879

Maurycy Gottlieb painted ‘Christ Preaching at Capernaum’ to portray a biblical scene filled with rich cultural and emotional tension. Dominating the scene is Jesus, his arms raised in a posture reminiscent of classical orators. The audience presents a variety of reactions, from rapt attention to skeptical dismissal, reflecting the complex dynamics between tradition and revolutionary thought. Consider the figure with a blindfold. This symbol of blindness appears across cultures and epochs, from the allegory of Fortune to depictions of Synagoga in medieval art, representing ignorance or a refusal to see the truth. Here, the blindfold touches on the subconscious resistance to new ideas. The emotional power of the painting lies in its ability to capture the tension between belief and doubt, the old and the new, evoking a powerful psychological response that engages viewers across time. The motifs and gestures in Gottlieb’s painting serve as potent reminders of how symbols evolve, resurface, and adapt to new cultural landscapes.