Seeing God in the
shadows
Modern Art and the
Life of a Culture: The Religious Impulses of Modernism
Author: Jonathan A.
Anderson and William A. Dyrness
Publisher: IVP
Academic
Pages: 374
I’m grateful that
years ago recording artist Jeff Johnson recommended Modern Art and
the Death of a Culture by H. R. Rookmaaker. It fascinated despite
being a bleak assessment. It did, however, offer a hopeful vision for
Christian engagement in the arts.
This is the
background for Modern Art and the Life of a Culture,
in which the authors acknowledge the contributions of the former but
offer correctives to the view that modernism was bereft of religious
influences. Rookmaaker tended to see in terms of black and white,
whereas the authors of this book provide a more nuanced view of art
history. They find the religious influence where it is not obvious
but nevertheless a factor. It is a little like seeing God in the
shadows.
This makes it not
only informative but a delight. As stated in the Afterword by Daniel
A. Siedell, “This book is a gift to those whose lives as Christians
have been shaped by modern art and culture. It reveals the authors’
love for their subject. Their words are nothing if not life-giving”
(338).
It helps if you have
a background in art history, and/or have read Rookmaaker, but even if
you have not, the biographical sketches of the artists examined are
engaging and inspirational. In particular, I enjoyed reading about
Vincent van Gogh and Andy Warhol. The story of the latter takes me
back to the quote at the beginning of this volume, “One should
reject nothing without a determined attempt to discover the living
elements within it” (Vasily Kandinsky). On the surface, one might
judge the works of Warhol to be irreligious, but as they do so
adeptly throughout, the authors find signs of life, prompting an
alternative view to the accepted, which is not always accurate. This
reminds me of the words of Jesus, “Do not judge by appearances, but
judge with right judgment” (John 7:24 ESV).
I have heard it said
that reviewers often get it wrong. I know that it’s been true of
this reviewer, which makes the following a favorite: “If anyone
imagines that he knows something, he does not know as he ought to
know” (1 Corinthians 8:2 ESV). Pride and hasty judgments lead to
error. It’s why I appreciate the careful exposition found in this
volume. The authors are not immune to our human propensity to get it
wrong, but their mastery and love for the material is obvious, as
well are the irenic tone.
As an outsider to
the art world, who sometimes felt a little lost in the details here,
the thought of F. W. Boreham helped me to persevere in my reading:
If a man is
to keep himself alive in a world like this, infinity must be sampled.
Like a dog on a country road I must poke into as many holes as can.
If I am naturally fond of music, I had better study mining. If I love
painting, I shall be wise to go in for gardening. If I glory in the
seaside, I must make a point of climbing mountains and scouring the
bush. If I am attached to things just under my nose, I must be
careful to read books dealing with distant lands. If I am deeply
interested in contemporary affairs, I must at once read the records
of the days of long ago and explore the annals of the splendid past.
I must be faithful to old friends, but I must get to know new people
and to know them well. If I hold to one opinion, I must studiously
cultivate the acquaintance of people who hold the opposite view, and
investigate the hidden recesses of their minds with scientific and
painstaking diligence. Above all I must be constantly sampling
infinity in matters of faith. If I find that the Epistles are gaining
a commanding influence upon my mind, I must at once set out to
explore the prophets.… ‘The Lord has yet more truth to break out
from his Word!’ said John Robinson; ‘and I must try to find it.
I don’t
normally read this type of book. Art history is a foreign culture,
but I see the wisdom in Boreham’s advice. I
have gained
understanding.
If
Rookmaaker left me despairing
of culture,
I recognize
again
that
things are not always what they seem. I never want to be
undiscerning, but to borrow the thought from an old song, I want to
have my Father’s eyes: “Eyes
that find the good in things/When good is not around.”
The
authors have this type of vision and it’s worth emulating.
