Crucifixion representations in Maltese post 1940 art : a thematic analysis

Abstract

Throughout my studies pertaining to the modules of modern and contemporary art and artists, I was intrigued by how these artists questioned long-running traditions and academies. I coupled my interests for these periods with an iconography that features significantly in Maltese art the crucifixion. For this reason, I decided to explore this theme further by delving into Maltese works that deal with the crucifixion theme from 1940 to the present day. Several publications have dealt with the religious works of individual Maltese artists. Therefore, this essay will draw on these sources in order to carry out a thematic analysis on modern and contemporary Maltese crucifixions executed during the previously mentioned time frame. Of course, one cannot preclude the international context when carrying out such an analysis, hence reference will be made to crucifixions produced by international artists. I will also be looking at the multitude of meanings that emerge from the modern and contemporary interpretations of the crucifixion. In fact, the theme of the crucifixion is so potent in the visual arts that its meaning evolved within the modern and throughout the contemporary. It has featured in works that deal with war, violence, and death because of the universal understanding of the image. This is also encountered in Maltese art, ranging from traditional representations to more unconventional renditions, as will be studied in the work of individual local modern and contemporary artists.