Photo by Paolo
I want to talk about how spirituality and art blend together in the gorgeous illustrations found in the art book Madonna of the Ways by Jeanne Tiefenbach-Henderson.
After going on a binge of visiting nearby art exhibitions and museums and scrolling through the internet to view virtual galleries hosted by prestigious institutions in countries that I have no hope of ever visiting (are you aware the Louvre has virtual tours?), I was awestruck and made contemplative by the many examples of religious art I saw. For every work of art that depicted something secular, there were two (or three, depending on the museum) that were religious in nature. Then in the following days, when I was lounging inside my rented room, I found an art book that was titled as if by a publisher that had been recently following my every move.
An odd coincidence.
Madonna of the Ways by Jeanne Tiefenbach-Henderson is the art book that I encountered. It is a collection of paintings of the Virgin Mary in various scenes, each accompanied by a short statement, a reminder of when and where we can find God’s grace. Madonna of the Ways is a lovely tribute to God and the Virgin Mary.
(Although I was a bit afraid of the coincidence. Imagine being inside the hotel room you have just been renting after having looked at plenty of religious imagery and then just happening on a book with the same themes you have been looking for recently. You would think you were being spied on!)
With everything in mind, except the coincidence, I was heavily preoccupied with religion and art and the resultant product of their union: religious art. But first, we have to define what religious art is.
The best definition I could find (and I am paraphrasing here) is that religious art is “any creative endeavor that seeks to express a theme or moral message associated with either a specific religion or broader spirituality; it can also be any work of art that attempts to venerate or center an important figure or event within the religion.”
If we are to go with that definition, which I think is a fine one, religious art simply means art that evokes religion in a frame that exemplifies it. This means that the intention of the artist to create the work is a sincere expression of their faith and belief. This is all well and good since it handily dismisses works of art that simply incorporate religious imagery without actually professing a conviction to the faith being seemingly espoused with the addition of those elements.
Now, why am I talking about all of this? Because I wanted to talk about the intersection of art and spirituality.
The Intersection of Art and Spirituality
When you begin to think about it, spirituality and art make quite very good and natural companions. If you look at the history of art, the earliest examples we can see are quite spiritual in nature, portraying rituals, animal-headed deities, and idealized, revered images of people (a la Venus of Willendorf); the earliest works of literature follow the same vein. The earliest form of music is the same also, heralding joyous festivity under the auspices of the gods and the like.
With all this historical baggage, it really does seem that any attempt at creation fits naturally well with spirituality. As the most primordial medium of expression, art is the only way for belief and spirituality to be transformed and given to the masses. Through art, abstract thoughts and ideas are given shape and form either visually, aurally, or physically.
What better way to advocate for a set of beliefs than through the senses?
It is best to remember and internalize this idea: humans are creatures of the senses.
We navigate existence with our ears and our eyes, and our touch, so having works that are representative of one’s beliefs provides a resonant effect.
So through art, spirituality, and belief are given a body that holds a reinforcing factor to the individual believer while also providing an anchor for groups of believers to congregate around and relate to each other. If you have been to a church, it is highly uplifting to be in the presence of other believers singing singularly. Have you ever visited a shrine, looking with awe at the paintings and the statues? Religious art is a very effective way of strengthening one’s faith.
And through spirituality, an artist can derive an explosive stimulus for inspiration and creativity. For many artists of intense faith, art and the making of it are spiritual journeys to become closer to divinity and attain a chance to see the wider truth of everything.
Oliver’s Twist 