The Orange Christ

1889

Maurice Denis

(French, 1870–1943)

Culture

France

Medium

oil on board

Measurements

Unframed: 23.8 x 18.9 cm (9 3/8 x 7 7/16 in.)

Credit Line

Nancy F. and Joseph P. Keithley Collection Gift 2020.107

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Location

Not on view

Did You Know?

As reflected in the two-dimensionality and color blocking in this painting, Denis believed a painting was "a flat surface covered with colors assembled in a certain order."

Description

A devout Catholic, Maurice Denis sought to create what he described as “imperishable icons.” In this small painting, he used flat planes of intense colors to conjure emotion in the viewer. Here, a somber group of women, depicted as amorphous black forms, gather around an orange figure of Christ on the cross. The sky is a reddish-purple streaked with green clouds. Pink angels flank the crucified Christ whose head is haloed in brilliant yellow. In this painting, the daring young artist combined religious fervor with unprecedented visual experimentation.