Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Moser's Bible Inevitably, as I'm researching online, I come across something that has to be shared. In this case, it is a rediscovery. Do you know about the Pennyroyal Caxton Bible, illustrated by Barry Moser? If you don't, you should. Moser is the first major artist in nearly 150 years to fully illustrate the Bible (Dore was the last). It is a masterful work that turns much of our visual understanding of the Word on it's head. I grew up looking at the sentimental images in my dad's Bible--colorful renditions of crowd scenes with everyone looking stricken (with piety or outrage, it didn't really matter). I liked them okay, but I'm not sure they offered any new understanding of the text. But the images in Moser's work are astonishingly gritty and beautiful. Here's a quote from Moser: "I think when people have illustrated the Bible, most of them have been devout Christians. Because they're devout Christians they can't separate themselves from the work. They get mired in piety, so they can't see the darkness. They only see the light of salvation. But if you don't have the darkness to contrast with the light, then what are you offering but cotton candy for Sunday school children? I think that some of the images in this Bible will be disturbing to a lot of people. The Bible is a very disturbing book." Go here for more images and quotes. Get one...you won't be sorry... 11:31:54 AM    comment []

Resource of Art Quotations Check it out...this resource claims to be the biggest resource of art quotations anywhere. Might be... click the link in the title to check it out... 11:08:42 AM    comment []

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