The Clothing of a Revelation
Joseph Campbell, once described art as ‘The Clothing of a Revelation’ I have always like that description. Art is not a Euclidian, linear, mathematical, description of the world at least not to me. Art embraces an inner spiritual, mystical understanding of life. I am reminded of Dali’s Christ of St. John of the Cross. This painting evokes profound mystical qualities. There are no words or logic that can handle the experience. Art can also bring a profound understanding of the human condition as in ‘The Raft of the Medusa’ by Gericault, Although Gericault was referring to an actual event he captured the universal human struggle that we all go through. Even through he painted in a classical style the images resonates deep into everyone’s soul.
Christ of St. John on the Cross