Christ After Lady Macbeth I 2016

Kehinde Wiley made this painting, titled "Christ After Lady Macbeth I" using a classical oil painting technique, but with a contemporary twist. I imagine Wiley standing before the canvas, brush in hand, layering the paint to create a hyper-realistic image. He's thinking about the weight of history, the representation of power, and the absence of certain bodies in those narratives. See how the figure is illuminated against a backdrop that feels both biblical and urban? The paint is applied smoothly, almost flawlessly, giving the surface a polished, refined quality. Then there's the figure's pose, holding the crown of thorns, which feels loaded with symbolism, like Caravaggio updated for the 21st century. Wiley’s in conversation with the Old Masters, challenging and expanding their vision. It’s a reminder that artists build upon what came before, remixing and reinterpreting the past to forge something new.