JESUS # 15 - May 7th


"Führe mich, oh Herr ..."
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This is one of the most discussed motives in my collection so far. By most guests it is instantly placed as being created in the 1930ies. The style simply speaks the graphic language of these times.

Still, it's clearly not a fascist propaganda item, since the Nazis weren't so keen on God and Jesus, they fell more for the german mythology. But since this visual style (and the clothing and posture of the kids, Jesus' hair colour) is so connected with fascist propaganda (at least among my guests so far), this motive has a really weird undertone to it. Jesus and Hitler just don't seem to work with each other.

This fact might lead to the motive not being picked as a favourite Jesus. Still it has been picked by a number of people for various reasons.

What the image does show, is the idolization of Jesus. It is a propanda poster, but in a different sense. It promotes Jesus as a friend of the children. If this were a biblical motive (even with the transfer to modern times), his disciples should be around. They aren't, so this seems to be clearly a constructed message for the kids: Jesus loves you.

Dispite the fact that Jesus again looks like he is wearing a nightgown. It always happens when he enters a modern setting. And I can't help but crack a smile when I see it.