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ぺい@3日目-ロ49b [Pixiv]

I mean the whole damn point of the Nativity story is that the supposed son of God (interpret Jesus how you fucking want, of course) was born to a couple of poor, exhausted peasants in the stable for the inn, and his first bed was a feeding trough for animals. That would nowadays be like a poor couple where the mother gives birth in a parking garage behind the motel because they couldn’t find a better place and nobody else would take them in. It’s a pretty gritty setting, and the idea is that God was reborn in some of the rock-bottom lowest circumstances. The only thing majestic was all the angels and shit, and of course motherly love

I get that a lot of the art portraying Madonna and Child as fabulously wealthy europeans in splendid robes and golden light was meant to glorify God + whichever nobility was sponsoring the artist, and while of course it’s genuinely beautiful art, it just always struck me as horribly missing the point, which is that the supposed son of God started in incredibly humble circumstances, among the kind of people that everyone else looks down on

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‘Massacre des Innocents’ by Leon Cogniét, 1824. Although the Feast of the Holy Innocents is in a couple of days time, this painting is still really relevant in that it portrays Mary as how She really was: a scared refugee mum, so fearful that Her son was going to be one of the Innocents killed by King Herod.

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My new favorite mordern interpretation is this work, José y Maria by Everett Patterson (http://www.everettpatterson.com)

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I had to look at this like FIVE TIMES to register all the layers of symbolism going into the piece by Patterson.

The hoodie as a veil.

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Each of them is haloed by an advertisement sticker.

No Vacancy sign on the motel.

Dove sticker over Maria’s head.

Neon sign with a star symbol also over Maria’s head.

The crown over the ‘Dave’s City Motel’ sign. “New Manger.”

The sign behind Jose’s elbow likely says ‘Herod.’

The wee little plant growing through the cracks at their feet.

It’s like a New Testament ‘I Spy.’ I love it!

Ugh.

New favorite interpretation of the nativity.

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The paper at José’s feet has an advert for Shepard Watches Maria’s hoodie says Nazareth High School The sign above José’s head proclaims ‘Good News!’

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Below the watch advertisement are two more ads for the brands Glad and Tide (glad tidings). The graffiti at the base of Mary’s mount reads “GoDd” and “Flesh”. On the payphone, there’s a sticker reading “Gloria”, and what’s presented as Zeke’s phone number is actually a reference to the book of Ezekiel, chapter 34, verses 15-16: “I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.”

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By: Keane Luong Instagram: @artwoonz

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Images of Mars seen by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) using the HiRise instrument.

Credit: Image credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

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I love this ship… so much. Jeff, let them smooch

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Speedpaint

I do commissions!

raisahaque

i’ve seen you thrive and flourish i’ve seen you fall and diminish i’ve seen you at your lowest that’s why i give you my all we must win for the greater good we must get up our appetite it’s time to eat i’m famished you must live like you’re dying always if tomorrow was your last would you get up the same way? out of bed, sluggish alarm on read, ignorance realize there’s no better day than today to start the hungry and broke get their shit together faster because they have no choice so if you’re comfortable if you’re okay is that really all you got?