The Art of Seeing: Easter and the Christian Mythos

“The heart of this people has been thickened, and they hear heavily with their ears, and they have closed their eyes – lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn again; and lest I should heal them.”

(Jesus, Matthew 13: 15)

In this month’s The Art of Seeing, we will focus on the Christian message at Easter through just one great work of art. Deep at its heart, the ideas embodied in this part of the Christian story convey many meanings about the nature of human life and death, of the need for both faith and doubt rather than absolute certainty, and of one’s personal and collective journey through life. Each part of the myth is distinct, and signifies not just the cycle of life we are all governed by, but the pathways to the ultimate message of hope and renewed spirituality. In the late medieval period, works of art included more images of the Passion, highlighting Christ’s suffering, his humanness. Betrayal, persecution, trial, despair, torment, dying, death, became much more of a focus for liturgy in the Church and therefore for artists from this period onwards, evoking a stronger emotional and compassionate response in the viewer. This pathos strengthened the ultimate message of resurrection and ascension of the human soul, ultimately communicating a message of hope in every day life and for a sense of what might lay beyond our human experience.

This session offers a tripartite approach of theory, practice and reflection and you are encouraged to participate as much or as little as you like.

This session is £10 per person.

For those who cannot attend live, there will be a recording available.