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Dio Wheeling-CharlestonThe Story Behind the 1940s “Head of Christ” Painting
One of the most popular images of Jesus Christ that has been reproduced an estimated billion times is a 1940 painting by Chicago artist Warner Sallman.
As Catholics, we are blessed to be surrounded by many artists’ interpretations of what Jesus looked like or ways He is portrayed in a vast variety of mediums – paintings, carvings, statues, stained glass, etc. – in order to strengthen our prayer life. However, Sallman’s version is believed to be the most recognizable Head of Christ on the planet.
Sallman’s image illustrates Jesus as a white man with blue eyes, wavy brown hair, and a deep focus ahead – ethnicity and features similar to European artists’ for centuries instead of what he geographically was, a Middle Eastern Jew with darker skin and hair.
What is the story behind the painting?
Sallman was asked in 1924 to sketch a cover for a Christian youth magazine he worked for – The Covenant Companion. He said he had a vision of Christ in his sleep and when he woke, he sketched it in charcoal pencil.
The sketch is believed to have been inspired by and reflective of Catholic French artist Léon-Augustin Lhermitte’s image of Jesus in the 1892 painting “Friend of the Humble (Supper at Emmaus). The painting illustrates Christ among a regular family in their home to represent that He is a humble and gracious friend.
Lhermitte’s Christ has the same forward gaze and handsome features. The painting was printed in Ladie’s Home Journal predating the night of Sallman’s vision of, as he described, a “manly” Christ.
It was in the 1930s when Christian publishing house Warner Press asked Sallman to paint his 1924 sketch in full color. A few years later, he created “The Head of Christ” in 1940. He displayed it in his own home and didn’t share with the public until a friend who worked for the Christian publishing house saw it in Sallman’s home.
In 1941, Warner Press printed and sold out of the Head of Christ print within two months – all 100,000 copies. Demands increased and more than one million prints were purchased within that first year by individuals and organizations all over the world.
When World War II came, the image was turned into a pocket-sized prayer card in a campaign that Warner Press dubbed, “Christ in Every Purse”.
Ten years after he turned his sketch into a lifelike painting, Sallman’s image of Christ was proudly displayed in homes, churches, schools, hospitals, offices, and government buildings all over the world. In the 50s judges even displayed the painting in their courtrooms for accusers, defendants, lawyers, and juries to see.
We all have our favorite images of Christ that come to mind when we pray. Let this article give us a little nudge to reflect on what that image is, why it is important to us, and what it inspires us to be and do.
Editor’s note: this article was inspired by and shares information talked about on the 99% Invisible Podcast and the John Kohan article on The Sacred Art Pilgrim.
