Christus Rex 1940

Esther Newport made this "Christus Rex" with what looks like colored inks, maybe even by hand. The flat planes of color and bold outlines remind us that art is as much about conscious design as it is about representation. I'm really drawn to the way Newport uses color to create a sense of depth and atmosphere. The muted blues and reds give the piece a kind of ethereal quality, while the sharp lines keep it grounded in reality. Then my eye lands on the detail of the feet, with that cross drawn on there. You can tell it's handmade, it's personal. It's this blend of the sacred and the everyday that really gets me. Newport's visual language, with its roots in religious iconography, also reminds me of someone like Paul Klee, who often used simple forms and symbols to explore complex spiritual themes. Both artists invite us to look beyond the surface and find meaning in the most unexpected places.