Joseph and Child

Artists choose position, lighting and elements to compose a portrait. They shift and shape these traits to change perception of a subject.

In this light, Tanya DeRoo's 2006 Christmas painting caught my eye because Tanya surprised me with an uncommon view -- Joseph and his Christ child. We're used to cards that feature Mary and child. To see the Christ child without Mary piqued my curiosity and led me to wonder how she chose to depict the age old story.

Joseph in Tanya's painting focuses on the face of Jesus, and so do we. Look, for instance, how the artist depicts a new baby's vulnerability. Then see beyond even that how the ancient text sings out that the "babe was wrapped in swaddling clothes." Swaddling clothes?

Tanya's picture reveals nakedness of father and son. How then do lights and elements shift perceptions here?

Do you see an almost faint stream of light between their eyes? We revisit this story inspired with a new reflection because of the artist's perception.

In much the same way, poet, Madeleine L'Engle, reframes the story from yet another angle. In, O Sapientia, L'Engle described how the child felt in Joseph's hands.

O Sapientia

It was from Joseph first I learned
of Love. Like me he was dismayed.
How easily he could have turned
me from his house; but, unafraid
he put me not away from him
(O God-sent angel pray for him).
Thus through his love was Love obeyed.

The Child's first cry came like a bell:
God's word aloud. God's word in deed.
The angel spoke so it befell,
and Joseph with me in my need.
O child whose Father came from heaven,
to you another gift was given,
your earthly father chosen well.

With Joseph I was always warmed
and cherished. Even in the stable
I knew that I would not be harmed.
And, though above the angels swarmed,
man's love it was that made me able
to bear God's love, wild, formidible,
to hear God's will, through me performed.

from A Cry Like a Bell (1987) Harold Shaw Publishers

What if you perceived an important event in your life as artists DeRoo and L'Engle did?

What one element would be your focus and how would you bring that out as you choose to compose the deeper icons and images? What I'm really saying here, is that when we begin to peceive our worlds as these artists did, we grow in wisdom that sees and creates beyond the surface.