The Temptation Of Saint Anthony 1946

Horace Pippin painted this scene of Saint Anthony in 1946, probably using oil on canvas. I can imagine him building up the image bit by bit, maybe starting with that sky - such a strange and dreamy horizon - and then adding the figures and details, each one telling a different part of the story. It’s like Pippin is having a conversation with the Old Masters. The topic is something that they often portray in their work: Saint Anthony. But this Saint Anthony is all Pippin. I bet he wondered what it must have been like for the saint when he was facing temptation. And he imagined this weird cast of characters on this strange landscape. I love the way Pippin sets up the composition with the wall cutting across the middle, creating a stage-like space. The texture of the paint looks smooth, almost like it's been scrubbed onto the surface. It makes me think about the challenges of faith and the inner struggles we all face. Painting is like that, too - a constant negotiation between what you want to say and how to say it.