St. Michael of Belgium 1914

James Jebusa Shannon created this artwork, titled "St. Michael of Belgium," in 1916. The scene is dominated by muted tones and dynamic brushwork, creating a sense of turmoil and ethereal presence. The composition is structured around a central vertical axis, featuring Saint Michael, a Belgian soldier and crucifix, set against a backdrop of swirling colors and indistinct forms. The juxtaposition of the divine and the mortal introduces a semiotic interplay between faith, sacrifice, and national identity. Shannon uses the figure of Saint Michael, rendered in shining armour with expansive wings, to symbolize divine protection. The soldier raising the Belgian flag blends into the fallen body at the bottom suggesting an offering in the face of death. Shannon destabilizes traditional notions of heroism and martyrdom. Through the turbulent brushstrokes and the blending of figures, the painting challenges fixed meanings. The formal elements of the painting—the composition, the use of color, and the dynamic brushwork—function not just aesthetically but as part of a larger cultural discourse on war, faith, and national identity.