Dimensions: overall: 60.7 x 45.1 cm (23 7/8 x 17 3/4 in.) Original IAD Object: Cross: 24"x13 1/2" (size of dwg.)
Copyright: National Gallery of Art: CC0 1.0
Vera Van Voris made this drawing of a carved wooden crucifix, and it's a study in contrasts. The cross itself is rendered in solid browns with clear, distinct lines, but the figure of Christ? That's where things get interesting. There's a certain vulnerability in how Van Voris approaches the body. The flesh is almost translucent, a sickly green, with delicate strokes suggesting both form and fragility. Notice the area around the wound – it's not just a hole, but a raw, almost floral burst of red against the muted tones of the skin. This mark seems to hold all the pain and humanity of the scene. It reminds me a little of Otto Dix, actually, in its unflinching portrayal of the human condition. But where Dix is brutal, Van Voris is tender, seeking to capture the essence of suffering through a quiet, almost reverent observation. Art is like that, isn't it? An ongoing conversation where artists borrow, respond, and reimagine the world around them.
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