Christ on the cross 1910

This ‘Christ on the Cross’ painting, by Leon Wyczółkowski, shows a real sensitivity to the act of looking, and therefore, feeling. Wyczółkowski’s painting has a dark, almost metallic, quality, but it’s softened by a light blue sky behind. It’s as though he’s working from memory as much as observation. I’m really drawn to the gold spikes surrounding Christ's head, which feel almost comical. They stand out among the subdued tones of the piece. Look at the metallic, shadowy, green on Christ’s body, almost as if it is a statue rather than a body. Is this a trick of the light, or is it the artist showing us something about how the body can be both alive and lifeless? The way the muted pinks and oranges of the crowd seem to melt into the backdrop creates a dreamlike quality. I think of Ensor, another artist drawn to the theatrics of religious imagery. It's this uncertainty, this not-knowing, that makes it so compelling.