Job and His Friends 1887
kristianzahrtmann1
statensmuseumforkunst
canvas
acrylic
charcoal drawing
painted
possibly oil pastel
oil painting
canvas
acrylic on canvas
underpainting
painterly
painting painterly
watercolor
"Job and His Friends" (1887) by Danish artist Kristian Zahrtmann depicts a biblical scene of Job, a righteous man, being comforted by his friends as he suffers from a debilitating illness. The painting, now part of the SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst collection, is a powerful example of Realism and features a stark, emotional depiction of Job's suffering, contrasted with the solemn expressions of his companions. Zahrtmann's masterful use of light and shadow highlights the dramatic tension of the scene, drawing the viewer into the depths of Job's despair and the quiet sympathy of his friends.
Comments
The Book of Job relates the story of how Satan destroys Job’s property and family and subjects him to painful illness to test his faith. Zahrtmann depicts Job in the company of friends who remain impassive as he curses God and the cruel injustice and senselessness of his suffering. Zahrtmann’s history painting is always tinted by his personal preferences and preoccupations. He was presumably gay, the mother figure was regularly debated in his work, and he engaged in an ambiguous revolt against traditions. Even so, the themes he addressed cannot be reduced to being merely personal in scope. The jar hiding Job’s sex may be a symbol of woman-as-mother. The “mother” can be read as morality carrying out an act of castration. If Job is also Zahrtmann we may read this as his erotic urges being blocked.
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