An Incoherent Truth
A response to Michael D’Antuono’s painting, “The Truth”.
13 May 2009

 

"The Truth" - Michael D'Antuono, oil on canvas

Artist Michael D’Antuono was to unveil his controversial piece entitled “The Truth” in New York City’s Union Square on April 29, 2009, - President Barack Obama’s 100th day in office. The talented artist knew his oil painting would make waves, but he was ill-prepared for the scope of the backlash he would endure once word got out. Due to the enormity of the criticism, Mr. D’Antuono decided not to unveil his piece there for fear of what might happen.

Reasons for the controversy stemmed from the subject matter, Barack Obama and Jesus Christ. The painting depicts President Obama in a pose resembling the crucifixion of Christ with a crown of thorns around his head. He is in front of the presidential seal surrounded by a veil on both sides. It is apparent that Obama is separating the veil. What message is the artist trying to send? Well, he is pretty tight-lipped on the issue, stating only that, “‘The Truth’ is a politically, religiously and socially-charged statement on our nation’s current political climate and deep partisan divide that is sure to create a dialogue.”[1]

First of all, we must not forget as Christians that we thankfully live in a country in which we can make statements freely, at least for now. Mr. D’Antuono’s statement is no less free than our right to publicly speak out against abortion or homosexuality. We can use D’Antuono’s artwork, as an opportunity to spread the Gospel of Christ.

It is evident that D’Antuono does not understand the message of the cross. If he did, he would have painted something else. To a discerning Christian the painting’s message is incoherent. It may as well be the random placement of pigmented oil on a canvas. The pose, the crown of thorns and the veil are merely symbols of Jesus’ crucifixion imposed on top of the U.S. President. If there were any parallels between them perhaps one might be offended, but there is no similarity between what President Obama has accomplished after 100 days in office and what Christ accomplished on the cross nearly 2000 years ago.

Lets briefly look at what was accomplished on the cross by Jesus’ crucifixion. In the Old Testament after Adam and Eve sinned and rebelled against God, God in his mercy provided a way for man’s sins to be covered. Sin has a hefty price tag. God said, “The wages for sin is death.” (Romans 6:23) Because God is perfectly just he must punish sin. What good is a judge that overlooks everyone’s crimes? Wouldn’t anarchy rule if this were so? However, God is also merciful. We see from the very first sin ever committed, that God, made a way to cover sins. (Genesis 3:21) God made animal coverings for Adam and Eve. This required blood to be shed. This act, performed by God Himself, shows us a prototype of the sacrificial system that would be a covering for sin under the Mosaic Law. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness for our sins. (Hebrews 9:22) However, where the blood of lambs and goats only “covered” our sins, (expiation) the blood of Christ “erases” our sin. (Hebrews 9:11-14) Jesus actually turned away God’s wrath on His people, satisfying the requirement of spiritual death for sin. (propitiation) Christ replaced the old sacrificial system with a superior one. A believer’s sins are not only covered but unseen by God. A believer is clothed as Christ, so that upon death, only Christ’s righteousness is seen on him. At Jesus’ death the veil in the temple was torn. (Luke 23:45) This symbolized that the barrier between God and man had been removed. Gone were the days of priestly sacrifices done behind the veil once per year. Now anyone, cleansed by the perfect sacrifice of Christ can come to God at any time. So now we ask, what does this painting have to do with Christ? Nothing really, Obama hasn’t saved us from spiritual death, neither has he suffered on behalf of his people. Are we clothed now in Obama’s righteousness? Does Obama have righteousness? It is relatively safe to assume that painting the president in this pose with a crown of thorns and a veil was merely a well thought out attempt to create controversy, thereby increasing the popularity of the artist.

Concern over the title of Mr. D’Antuono’s painting is perhaps more warranted than the painting itself. It highlights a disturbing problem in the world today. A press release from Mr. D’Antuono states, “‘The Truth,’ like beauty, is in the eyes of the beholder,”.[2] The enemy is not Mr. D’Antuono here, it’s our 21st century relativistic culture. His statement says it all, Mr. D’Antuono may have meant it as a play-on-words, but truly, society today has forsaken all notions of absolute truth. Truth has become something different for everyone, a kind of Golden Corral of statements and opinions. You just walk down the line of life, with your tray in hand, deciding what looks and sounds best to you in that moment. If it looks good, you scoop it up, take it in, and build your own personal philosophy on it. What happens to a world in which truth no longer exists? We may soon find out.

Footnotes:

1, 2 “Painter Michael D'Antuono To Unveil Controversial New Work in NYC's Union Square on Obama's 100th Day in Office”
PRNewswire 24 April 2009

All Bible quotes from the “New International Version” of the Bible, Zondervan Publishing