preview

Analysis Of Christ Healing At The Pool Of Bethesda

Decent Essays

Visual Analysis: Christ Healing at the Pool of Bethesda by Carl Bloch
The influence of Art is evident through many different contemporary means that alludes to any one time-period or era. The relevancy of such a depiction is represented through the aspect or topic of religion. In the Christian religion, whether directly or indirectly many Christian artist have spread faith over generations, drawing inspirations of the faith and incorporating them into their pieces. Carl Bloch a Danish painter illustrates the Christ’s life through paintings, as his work was displayed Frederiksberg Castle Church in current day Denmark. The paintings showed how Christ taught and healed many people. Some of his paintings are alter pieces for the church. The …show more content…

This reflects their intentions of following Christ. They are not following to help him, but find fault with him. Many of the people at the pool of Bethesda are waiting for the disturbance of the water so that they may be healed of their illnesses by it miraculous powers. In the painting, Bloch’s use of color depicts the water as dirty implying that it may not have miraculous powers that the people believe it does. The elderly man had not been able to bathe in these waters and be healed from his disease for thirty-eight years. When Christ heals this man, he does not help him to the water; he tells him to rise and walk and he is healed. Christ is the one that the people should believe in to be healed. This shows that Christ being a perfect being wants to help those in need and he is the one that has the power to perform miracles. Bloch effectively uses body position in the painting Christ Healing at the Pool of Bethesda to add to the theme of Christ being there to help people.
In the painting Christ’s position shows his willingness and ability to heal the elderly man. His left hand is lifted the shelter of cloth the man is under, literally shows that Christ can lift the sick and heal them or can lift the burdens which befall them. Christ’s right-hand gesture is inviting and shows his love and willingness to help toward the elderly man. The elderly man’s hands are starting to reach up towards Christ, trusting and accepting his help.

Get Access