We are currently experiencing Advent. It’s the only accurate way to describe what is happening to us. We’re into the build-up to Christmas. Steeped in it. Whether we like it or not, it’s happening & nothing can stop it. In religious terms, it’s more of a preparation for the birth of Jesus, a meditation on the coming of the Christ child…but for the rest of us it’s glitter & hype as we anticipate the one day of the year that involves state-approved niceness. That said, I don’t wish to give the impression that you can’t have both.
The art of Advent varies in terms of characters, atmosphere & scene. There are a few events to choose from. Even the more secular examples emphasise the light & love you’d also find in religious depictions of Mary getting the news, the travels of the Wise Men. Although it’s a Christian period of observation, culturally it has become important & is marked by (probably but I have no empirical evidence) the majority of families in the UK in the form of Advent calendars &, less commonly, Advent candles.
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Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859-1937), The Annunciation, 1898
Where Mary is told she’s going to give birth to Jesus. I mean it must’ve come as a bit of a shock & the whole “an angel appears” thing must have been downright terrifying. Although when I read about the lives of saints & martyrs, they were often amazingly young people. I often think of how in those days, there wasn’t much to do with any spare time you might have had except get closer to your god. This is perhaps merely the insight of an atheist. Anyway, Tanner’s painting doesn’t even show an angel in the traditional form. Instead a person-sized glow lights up the room. In demeanour & expression, she seems to me quite a natural Mary. She hasn’t fallen to her knees & although her hands are clasped, she has simply slumped onto the bed, as you might after a shock. She looks up sideways, shaken & obedient but not entirely trusting the bright light next to her.
Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Ecce Ancilla Domini! (The Annunciation), 1849-50
Rossetti’s Mary is no less apprehensive & visibly cowers.
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Franz Anton Maulbertsch (1724-1796), Visitation (detail), between 1771 & 1777
In this unlikely scenario, Mary seems well chuffed & welcomes the news with open arms & a big smile. Which is nice.
The Embrace of Elizabeth and the Virgin Mary, St. George Church, Kurbinovo, North Macedonia, 1191
This fresco shows a rather serious & knowing encounter between two mothers of boys born to die, John the Baptist & Jesus respectively.
Govert Flinck (1615-1660), Angels Announcing the Birth of Christ to the Shepherds, 1639
I may have said this in a blog before, but Monty Python ruined any chance of my taking a lot religious art seriously. In any case, if the whole experience was frightening for anyone other than Mary, it’s these poor guys. I’ve always felt sorry for the shepherds. Who knows if they were even that devout or spiritual at all? It’s likely they took some deity’s name in vain or at the very least cursed aloud at this point…
David G. Klein, Woodcut from All Creation Waits, 2016
At some point in the period of Advent, this work assumes that Jesus is on his way. Everything is ready & looking forward to his arrival. The manger is turned away from us which, along with the title, makes me think there’s nothing to see just yet.
Maija Purgaile, Advent Painting, 2002
We mustn’t forget the star. This version from Latvian artist Maija Purgaile lights up the whole area. It’s almost like the sun’s up or as if there are street lights on. Perhaps with less air pollution, we wouldn’t need the torch function on our phones. If you look closely it’s not only a painted scene but is worked into with yarn & cotton fabric, despite the title.
Gari Melchers (1860-1932), The Nativity, 1891
Although it’s not strictly Advent any more since the baby is now born, it seems like it’s just happened. Mary is wiped out & no wonder, especially sitting on a hard, stone floor. Joseph continues to wonder what on earth he’s got himself into & baby Jesus, rather than meek & mild glows & naps.
William L. Hawkins (1895–1990), Nativity Scene, 1987
William L. Hawkins created folk art that increased in popularity in his later years. Here he has used mixed media as he frequently did. Despite the naïve style of the work, the scene recalls medieval paintings of the nativity in terms of composition & backdrop.
Rembrandt & workshop (1601-1669), Dream of Joseph (1645 or 1646)
This depicts the second dream Joseph has about Jesus appearing in his life. Here the angel warns him that he must take a detour to save the baby, since King Herod of Judea is preparing to massacre all boys of two years or younger in the Bethlehem region.
Richard Ernst Kepler (1851-1927), Im Lande des Christkinds, 1903
Every year, we get Advent calendars. It used to be plain paper, then for years there was chocolate, now it’s candles. Some of the candles smell horrible but they’ll make great Christmas presents for next year.
(Only joking. They’ll make great presents for this year).
Advent Candles at Castle Bazaar, Budapest District I., Hungary, 2015
This public artwork shows the run-up to Christmas in four weeks represented as candles. Advent candles have become more popular in the home, although there are associated risks. As children in the UK, we’d watch a children’s programme called Blue Peter & it dealt with current affairs, charities & crafts. It seemed like sensible, parent-sanctioned entertainment & it had animals on it who definitely made it more watchable. One of the things they showed you how to make every year was an absolute Health & Safety catastrophe called an Advent Crown. This consisted of wire coat hangers, tinsel, candles, baubles & a series of naked flames. What could possibly go wrong? Blue Peter still runs (since 1958!), but I doubt this calamitous suggestion still does. See below but PLEASE DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME:
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