Ramblings Loosely Related to Art History #1: Jesus the Gingy 'Jew Boy' Joiner

Naomi, If you want a piece of advice from somebody who has been around here for a bit longer, the religious posts don’t suit an international forum like this very well.

It’s not about Christians only. There are people from all over the world and from all confessions, including atheists. If one doesn’t agree with those beliefs, it’s bad enough with all the projects that are of religious content that can’t be avoided to add even more.

Of course, it’s your blog and you can do whatever you like but those contents are always prone to disagreements and it is good to know it beforehand.

People tend to be nice here and might not complain but, believe me, plenty would dislike it.

On the other hand, I just peeked at the cartoon and loved it!

By the way, I wasn’t able to distinguish which tool has the bald guy in his right hand but you are right, it really doesn’t look like a roman handplane in any case. Not even like one of those.

Have a nice day

-- Jojo, shopless in Kyoto · http://twitter.com/kagushokunin

Hi, Jojo. Thanks for the heads-up. I hear what you’re saying about religious stuff. Still, i don’t think this post is as intrusive as a giant inlaid cross (and ppl who make them don’t intend them to be, which is something to consider, as well…). I have to say, that i don’t want to get into an all-out confrontation with anybody, but i think when ppl ignore religious issues, the problem gets bigger (i am thinking of Dutch tolerance, which was really just turning a blind eye and inviting all the problems that exist there currently, which make me quite upset). And, i really think that those differences enrich us and enhance the common object of ppl’s worship. What i am saying is pretty obvious—i know your caution is more about fundamentalists who don’t agree with peaceful coexistence, so again, i appreciate your concern and friendly heads-up.
The post isn’t so much geared towards religion as it is towards woodworking in painting. And since much art is religious iconography, that’s where it’s to be find.
I’m glad you liked the comic—i thought it was cute! If anything, the Victorian reactions to the painting are anti-Semitic (art history in general is a bit of an awkward field in this respect). And since they are also interesting and a part of the art history, i felt that it would maybe be less awkward if i put them forward, since i am Jewish.
Re the painting: the bald guy (Joseph?)—i thought maybe he had a handplane, but Wikipedia says he’s inspecting Jesus’ wounds…I will see if i can zoom in somehow.
Thanks again for your comments and feedback, Jojo. Hope you get some good shop time!

-- 'Humility is a duty in great ones, as well as in idiots'--Jeremy Taylor

I’ve seen this painting before, but was unaware of any controversy. The only comment I had heard was in regards to how European the shop and people appeared. But then, I haven’t actually done any research.

-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.

as i understand this period in history ,
travel was almost impossible for most ,
(except for merchants and soldiers ) .
in order to get their views accepted ,
the scribes , ( any religious devote , from any religion ),
the only ones that could write ,
were like p.r. guys , and as nobody
would believe tall tales from “over there ” ,
so things were depicted in everyday ways .

in todays world, that would be depicted
as this scene in front of a unisaw,
with a 14” bandsaw and longbed jointer
and 15’ planer , with a pickup truck
out side the shop , with maybe a computer
tucked in a corner , next to a spray rig .
and mom would be saying ,
“please wear your googles and earmuffs , son ,
you have much to do yet .”

-- david ,new mexico ,allheart

”Still, i don’t think this post is as intrusive as a giant inlaid cross”

Agree on that.

”your caution is more about fundamentalists who don’t agree with peaceful coexistence”

Not only that (I guess I look at it from the comfortable and safe point of view that gives living in a more peaceful society) but also directed towards not harming other people’s sensibilities.

”Re the painting: the bald guy (Joseph?)—i thought maybe he had a handplane, but Wikipedia says he’s inspecting Jesus’ wounds…I will see if i can zoom in somehow.”

I don’t know the bald guy’s name but, in any case, what I see among the three hands looks to me like some sort of a wooden upright handle.

On the other hand, I don’t think his bench is really suited to handplanning, those flimsy legs can barely support the weight of the top with those massive aprons by themselves!

-- Jojo, shopless in Kyoto · http://twitter.com/kagushokunin

Naomi: From one student of art to another….i love the post! keep chargin! I clicked through to your blog and found a ‘boyz candy store.’ bookmarked! Thanks.

-- Max the "night janitor" at www.hardwoodclocks.com

it a shame that political correctness has to get in the way of your sharing a clearly woodworking topic with us. I always found it interesting how the renaissance and pre-renaissance painters depicted the Family as European…but like you said back in those days everybody wanted to worship Him jsut not acknowledge that he was of Jewish decent.

I agree with what patron said too, that if we had the same mentality today(and obviously some people do) we would see it dipicted as a fully automated shop….

I hated Art History classes in school, but they never tied in with stuff I liked. Please keep posting these Naomi.

-- If you can't build it, code it. If you can't code it, build it. But always ALWAYS take a picture.

This seems to be an example of art trying to imitate life.
There is obviosly very little historic information in a depiction painted from anecdotes 1850 years later.
The artist seems to have a foot fetish as well.

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

Actually bob, if i remember my AH…this was a period of time when the artists were REALLY trying for and were expected to display anatomical correctness almost to a medical diagnostic level. I am actually surprised there are clothes at all…..

-- If you can't build it, code it. If you can't code it, build it. But always ALWAYS take a picture.

Pictureboy, perhaps evidence of sandals would be in order then.
Also the “frame saw’ on the wall is inaccurate for the period . <g>
If we were to stand the”sempstress” on her feet it appears that she might top out at 6”5”.

bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

you missed the discussion above about the reason the image uses “modern elements”. As was discussed if the same image was done today in the same ‘style’ there would be powertools and automobiles in the image. I said trying to …i didnt always say they succeeded.

-- If you can't build it, code it. If you can't code it, build it. But always ALWAYS take a picture.

Russell—yes, there was a lot of controversy around this painting; from what i have read, it seems to have become a symbol or posterboy for the Pre-Raphaelites, and people in the Royal Academy of the Arts tried to block these artists wherever possible. Apparently, Ruskin himself was not crazy about this particular painting, but he still went to bat for them, which is pretty nice.

Patron/David—I totally agree. It would be interesting to look at much more current depictions of JC and his family. I guess it’s marketing. German Jesus was hot and looked like Brad Pitt, and i am sure there was a hot Denzel-type of black Jesus, etc etc. Makes for an interesting study about worship and projection. And maybe even idolatry. Well…i guess i know what my next mini project is…

Jojo—i am glad there are no hard feelings or anything. That aspect of Japanese culture, of privacy and propriety, has often been compared to English social behaviours. Something about islanders, they say. After a few years in England and returning to Israel, i certainly miss it! And you’re right about the bench—ridonculous!

Max—Thanks so much—you made my day!

Depictureboy—You also made my day! About the PC stuff, i don’t think Jojo was taking objection, but rather trying to warn me about the possibility of someone being offended or taking issue with the content. Yes, that would be so off base, but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen—ppl are off base the whole time. It’s good to have a little warning. That said, it’s good to have warning cos i plan on writing what i want to write anyway! ;-)
Your comment about art history classes also makes me think about the way classes are taught. The Talmud says, ‘teach a student according to his/her way’—so i supposes it should be possible to find something for everyone. And don’t worry, i have another CRAZY jesus woodworking painting to share with you all.

Bob—i always wonder about anachronism back then and if they were really that narrow-sighted and hadn’t a clue about reality in the bible (some Ultra-Orthodox Jews actually think that they are dressing like Moses and the Children of Israel in the dessert! They have no idea that they are dressing like Polish gentile nobility of the 18th and 19th century. Why anyone would think that fur hats are suitable attire in the dessert is beyond me, but it just goes to show you what ppl can be conditioned to think…) or if they intentionally used anachronism as a way of illustrating the enduring relevance of Scripture…I never noticed the foot fetish! Hilarious! Although, i did hear someone speak about fetishism in Victorian England and apparently Dickens had some crazy hair fetish…were you alluding to that stuff?

As for realism and painting, i’ve also heard it said that ‘carpenter’ is a Talmudic term for teacher, so Jesus may not have even been a carpenter. He could have been a plumber. ;-)

-- 'Humility is a duty in great ones, as well as in idiots'--Jeremy Taylor

So… what is the artist trying to convey?

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

I think he is trying to get at how JC and family were ppl; maybe he’s sick of all the serene depictions of saints. Perhaps Millais likes the idea of a good day’s work. I am projecting here, but religion that values the earthly component of our existence is (to me) more appealing.Of course, stressing the humanity of JC can get you into deep shit with certain religious authorities, and that is why the painting generated tension then, and is generating a bit now! And that’s what makes it powerful and exciting…

-- 'Humility is a duty in great ones, as well as in idiots'--Jeremy Taylor

“Of course, stressing the humanity of JC can get you into deep shit with certain religious authorities, and that is why the painting generated tension then, and is generating a bit now! And that’s what makes it powerful and exciting…”

yea..but i dont think a person would get into as much with JC as with the big M…

-- If you can't build it, code it. If you can't code it, build it. But always ALWAYS take a picture.

A fascinating topic Naomi. Keep ‘em coming!

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business. http://www.folksy.com/shops/TreeGems

I like this Naomi….......this is very interesting, especailly since I started woodworking I have seen it as a form of art , it is all in the eye of the beholder, if we could only stop to see through the eyes of someone else, it may open our hearts and free our minds a little more. Maybe this is a step that we all should take a journey on.

Robin Renee’

AKA…..........Woodchic

-- Robin Renee'

looking beyond the perfectionist controversies and political (in)correctness issues, it is fascinating to see the scene of a woodworker from “then” (whether it is the time of the characters or the time of the artist) and compare it to “now”.

Thank you for sharing.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

I don’t know much about the political and religious views of some Idiot critics and so called learned historians.
Nor do I know much about fine art. But I do know this… When a picture appeals to me, being the color, format, layout, subject, light, shadow’s, or whatever… I enjoy THAT picture for what it is. Period.
I know that people enjoy making a discussion or argument over certian paintings. criticising or praising someones work…. what should be, what should’nt, did he or didn’t he, christian or jew? Gay or straight/
It does not change the fact that – that picture is here and now. We must enjoy it for what it is and how it is.
Does a painting change a persons point of view due to the fact that there might be a controversy behind it.?
If you enjoy that painting- enjoy it- why must a story in the negative change your perception toward it?
Also—————why does a painting of JC have to categorised as a religious post. rather than a historical one. Come on man!

-- "Even small steps makes a distance." (Shawn Phillips, musician)