WHEN in the course of human Events, it becomes necessary….
Translucent Hands: Christ in the Carpenters Shop
byVanderleunonJanuary 20, 2019
“Another haunting work of Georges de la Tour in his tenebrist style is Christ in the Carpenters Shop, completed in 1645 and which hangs in the Musée du Louvre, Paris.
“It is a depiction of Joseph, a descendant of the house of David, husband of Mary and “foster father” to Christ, who was a carpenter in Jerusalem. In Georges de la Tour’s depiction, we see Joseph leaning forward, busy drilling a hole in a block of wood with his auger, the shape of which mirrors the shape of a cross. He is in his workshop watched over by Jesus whose face radiates in the large frame. Once again the depiction of the two characters is swathed in darkness with only their faces and upper bodies lit up by the flame of the candle held by the boy.
“Jesus is seated and holds a candle to illuminate what Joseph is doing. It almost seems that it is the face of Jesus which is illuminating the scene and not the light of the candle. The act of holding up the light for Joseph to see by has an allegorical reference to Jesus Christ being the Light of the World as mentioned in the New Testament (John 8:12).” On Georges de la Tour
“I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
Joseph was never a carpenter “in Jerusalem.” The Holy Family resided in Nazareth. It is hard to take anything seriously that makes such a basic mistake.
GrayJanuary 20, 2019, 4:59 PM
And per that Light:
“And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.”
DanielJanuary 20, 2019, 7:06 PM
Jesus seems to be speaking, Joseph listening. The posture of the Christ child is as though enthroned. In de la Tour’s “Adoration of the Shepherds,” Joseph is holding the candle, but there too the child seems to be the source of light. So fascinating!
KristinJanuary 21, 2019, 2:41 AM
A beautiful rendering of a simple “tableau”. Its the Child’s inner light that brings it to life.
Real World Address for Donations, Mash Notes and Hate Mail
Gerard Van der Leun
1692 MANGROVE AVE
APT 379
Chico, Ca 95926
Green Pants Interior by Klahn
Who Am I? by Carl Sandburg
My head knocks against the stars.
My feet are on the hilltops.
My finger-tips are in the valleys and shores of universal life.
Down in the sounding foam of primal things I reach my hands and play with pebbles of destiny.
I have been to hell and back many times.
I know all about heaven, for I have talked with God.
I dabble in the blood and guts of the terrible.
I know the passionate seizure of beauty
And the marvelous rebellion of man at all signs reading “Keep Off.”
My name is Truth and I am the most elusive captive in the universe.
Duty, Beauty, Liberty, Country, Honor, Family, Faith — Plus a few simple easy to follow rules for guys
Men saw the stars at the edge of the sea
They thought great thoughts about liberty
Poets wrote down words that did fit
Writers wrote books
Thinkers thought about it
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
Many’s the road I have walked upon
Many’s the hour between dusk and dawn
Many’s the time
Many’s the mile
I see it all now
Through the eyes of a child
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
And close your eyes
Leave it all for a while
Leave the world
And your worries behind
You will build on whatever is real
And wake up each day
To a new waking dream
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Change, change come over
Change come over
Talkin’ about a change
Change, change
Change come over, now
Change, change, change come over
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
Gerard Van der Leun
Comments on this entry are closed.
That ain’t a candle, it’s a BLOWTORCH!
Joseph was never a carpenter “in Jerusalem.” The Holy Family resided in Nazareth. It is hard to take anything seriously that makes such a basic mistake.
And per that Light:
“And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.”
Jesus seems to be speaking, Joseph listening. The posture of the Christ child is as though enthroned. In de la Tour’s “Adoration of the Shepherds,” Joseph is holding the candle, but there too the child seems to be the source of light. So fascinating!
A beautiful rendering of a simple “tableau”. Its the Child’s inner light that brings it to life.