Biblical character analysis in painting
- WCU Author/Contributor (non-WCU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Carrie Elizabeth Croom (Creator)
- Institution
- Western Carolina University (WCU )
- Web Site: http://library.wcu.edu/
- Advisor
- Ron Laboray
Abstract: My paintings are allegorical reflections of modernized narratives based on Biblical
stories and characters. The subject matter also comes from historical religious painting,
modern allegorical painting, and personal experiences gleaned from my own religious
influences, including a staunch Christian upbringing with both Quaker and Baptist
affiliations. I embrace the narrative traditions of religious paintings that were prevalent
during the middle ages, but I update and change elements of the stories. I also use acrylic
paint, a medium developed in the 20th century, as opposed to more traditional mediums
like oil or tempera.
I pick narratives for my paintings based on my interest in gender roles in Biblical
allegory and in religious art throughout history. The portraits depicting female subjects
are self-portraits, reminiscent of artists Jenny Saville and Cindy Sherman. In these
paintings, I engage in multiple relationships such as: artist as objective researcher, artist
as subject, as well as artist empathizer, particularly with female Biblical characters. Male
subjects depict dominant male characters like Jesus and are sometimes painted as
portraits and other times only part of the male character is seen in relation to female
characters. Similar to the way Edith Neff uses family and friends to portray mythological characters, my significant other is my model for the Biblical male subjects within my
paintings.
The paintings invite the viewers to become engaged participants in the narrative
through the use of intimate, but large canvases and the viewers’ connection to the gaze of
the subject. An empathic concern with the subjects, as seen in the work of Erik Thor
Sandberg, influenced my work. The intention is for the audience to empathize with the
characters in the portrait and to better understand the characters’ traditional plights and
contemporary dilemmas. The reevaluation of Biblical stories for a modern audience,
combined with a sense of empathy for individual characters, creates a space for the
reconsideration of well-known stories of the Bible.
Biblical character analysis in painting
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Created on 3/1/2014
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Thesis
- Language: English
- Date: 2014
- Keywords
- Art, Biblical, Narrative, Painting, Religious, Self-Portrait
- Subjects
- Jezebel, -- Queen, consort of Ahab, King of Israel -- Art
- Mary Magdalene, -- Saint -- Art
- Delilah -- (Biblical figure) -- Art
- Symbolism in art
- Sex role in art