Saint John The Baptist In The Wilderness 2013

Kehinde Wiley’s 2013 painting “Saint John the Baptist in the Wilderness” portrays a young black woman, a contemporary figure, in the role of the biblical Saint John the Baptist, standing against a vibrant background of flowers and birds. Wiley's contemporary spin on a traditional religious iconography, often portrayed as a European male, is characteristic of his work, which utilizes the aesthetics of Old Master portraiture to challenge conventional notions of representation. The artist's meticulous oil painting style, and the depiction of a Black individual in a traditionally white-coded role, is a powerful commentary on race, identity, and power.