Christ Walking on the Water 1910

Editor: So, this is Henry Ossawa Tanner’s etching, “Christ Walking on the Water,” from 1910. The stormy scene definitely evokes a sense of anxiety, almost like a nightmare. The etching style adds to that mood, with these dense lines creating shadows. How do you interpret this work? Curator: This print reflects Tanner's profound engagement with religious narrative, specifically its intersection with Black spiritual experience. Given that Tanner himself faced racial discrimination, consider how the representation of Christ, offering solace amidst turmoil, resonates with the struggles and hopes of the African American community during the early 20th century. The visual composition guides us too. Notice how Christ is almost ethereal, blending into the light? What does that tell you? Editor: It’s interesting to consider that within the social context. Christ’s almost dreamlike presence seems to represent a hope or ideal rather than a tangible figure. Maybe the hazy depiction speaks to the unattainable nature of escaping those struggles. Curator: Exactly! Tanner was very deliberate with his symbolism. The luminosity isn't just aesthetic. It points to the divine, a beacon of hope amid a society filled with turmoil. Furthermore, consider the audience for religious prints. How might circulation of these types of images reinforce social identities and even collective resistance? Editor: I hadn't thought about that dissemination aspect before! So the print isn't just about personal faith; it's about shared cultural and political understanding? Curator: Precisely! Thinking about how this piece functions in the world—how it's viewed, shared, and interpreted—is as important as the artistry itself. Editor: I’ll never look at religious art quite the same way again. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! Thinking about art as a social and political object makes it even richer.