Gethsemane 2017

Bo Bartlett painted 'Gethsemane' in an effort to capture the complexities of the human spirit. The title, 'Gethsemane,' evokes the biblical garden where Jesus prayed the night before his crucifixion, a place of deep contemplation and agony. This painting departs from traditional religious art. Instead of depicting a scene from the Bible, Bartlett situates us in a contemporary bedroom. There are two young women; one is reclining, seemingly lost in thought, while the other sits behind her, watching. A large moon looms in the background. And on the bedside table is an apple. Bartlett draws on classical themes, such as innocence and the loss of it, and then brings it to bear on female subjectivity. What does it mean to be a woman on the cusp of adulthood? Is it possible the artist is contemplating the weight of the choices and expectations that shape these women's lives? The apple introduces themes of temptation and knowledge, inviting us to ponder the choices made and the paths taken. 'Gethsemane' becomes a site of quiet yet profound emotional reckoning, urging us to consider the spiritual dimensions of everyday life.