Christ Crowned With Thorns 1938

Horace Pippin's "Christ Crowned With Thorns" has this quiet, subdued palette, like he’s painting in whispers. The dark tones and the flatness of the image draw me in. It's like the painting emerged slowly, Pippin layering each brushstroke with intention. I try to imagine what Pippin was thinking, standing there, brush in hand. He lets each mark sit exactly where it needs to be. I imagine the crown of thorns was really difficult to make and it must have been so difficult to give it such a powerful presence. It must have been a real physical struggle, kind of like Christ’s struggle. The way he painted is an example of how other artists have given form to the same subject in various ways. Painting, like life, is an ongoing conversation, a constant exchange of ideas across time. It embraces uncertainty, allowing for many interpretations. What does it mean to you?