ArtWay

Beauty is not pasted over suffering but grows out of it—like the proverbial shoot from parched ground. Bruce Herman

Year A, Autumn Sunday 8, Parable of the Talents

Year A, Autumn Sunday 8, Parable of the Talents

This woodcut portrays the parable of the talents. It was made by an unknown artist, probably of African descent. Remarkably enough the person who has received the five talents is portrayed as a woman here. She kneels for her lord, depicted as a tribal chief. Instead of bags of money she offers him fruits, a basket and a bag full. This seems to contain a reference to the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot) of the Israelites, who during this feast offered the first fruits of the harvest to God as a token of thankfulness for God's abundant blessing. The very tall chief holds one hand open to receive the gifts, while he blesses his two good servants with the other. In the background the third servant is busy unearthing his hidden talent. A man with a pistol in his hand is about to take his 'treasure' away from him.

Marleen Hengelaar-Rookmaaker

Form more materials for the late summer and autumn, see here