brush drawing by Thomas Merton
(image size 6 1/2" h x 4 1/4" w)
Notes from Roger Lipsey
“This perfectly grand image of the Crucifixion was found in a booklet, a kind of diary of drawings, as just one among ten or so brush drawings, the others of no special interest. Though monumental in “feel” and impact, it is factually a small print produced by inking and printing with the edge of an envelope or something of the kind. The method could hardly be simpler; the result could hardly be more majestic. This image recalls medieval carvings of the Crucifixion to which Merton was exposed as a boy in France, especially of the Romanesque period before the elaborations of Gothic art.
… this image of Christ Crucified draws together, remarkably, the values he most cared for as a contemporary artist and the values he most cared for as a monk …”
(Angelic Mistakes, The Art of Thomas Merton, by Roger Lipsey, p. 53)
beautiful
ReplyDeleteemblematic
a sign on the wall
better than the shroud of turin
What a great comment!
Deleteyes, and seems that Merton was "playing" with "inking" when this image emerged.
ReplyDeleteI love to know I can come and spend time here. What a blessed place you are offering, Beth.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
you're welcome, Claire! I have to warn you, though, this blog goes through phases. There are times when it is almost completely silent for long periods :-) ...
DeleteGreetings Beth _____________________
ReplyDeletemy 2 cents !
Perhaps
the cross as well as the raft should be abandoned
burden's only to be transported ,if faith and belief
were churned to kindness for self and others ,it would
solve much human problems but it seams humanity is attached
to guilt and despair is that not where most life is lived
is this not why sin had to be invented ,mankind is
truly a defected product -
Blessings _______________________________________________________-
Thanks for you pocket change, Bob.
DeleteYou're right, we're a pretty broken lot. It does seem that simple acts of kindness, toward ourselves and others, could go a long way in healing us. Yet we get bogged down in what we do or do not believe, which can be just another head trip.
In my opinion deep knowing can only come from silence and un-knowing.