Die Taufe (The Baptism)
Adi Holzer

The Austrian artist Adi Holzer is quoted as saying: ‘The artist has the task of making the invisible visible, to trace the secrets of existence.’ Here, he takes an unusual and uncompromising look at the baptism of Jesus. The red figure of Jesus stands in the river, looking straight ahead, his expression enigmatic. John the baptiser kneels on the bank, using a vessel to pour water over Jesus’ head and shoulders. Over their heads hovers a dove – the traditional image of the Holy Spirit. And above, God the Father’s presence is symbolised by two triangles. The scene is dramatically divided into two halves, the artist using colour and shape to emphasise this. On the left, a scumble of black and blue paint crowds in on the figures. On the left, thin parallel lines bring calm. A strong, golden light floods downwards, fading to a pale golden glow. Has Holzer made the invisible visible?

Art in focus is curated by Meryl Doney

Image: ©Adi Holzer/Wikimedia Commons

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This article was published in the February 2020 edition of Reform

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