“Ascension” is an illustration by Eric Gill, created in 1918. This piece of artwork can be classified under the Art Deco movement and falls within the genres of illustration and religious painting. The Art Deco influence can be seen in the stylization of the figures and the geometric qualities of the composition.
This artwork serves as a representation of the religious event known as the Ascension. It depicts an individual presumed to be Jesus Christ rising above a group of onlookers, who could be the apostles, at the moment of ascension into heaven. The stark, linear rays emanating from or converging towards the central figure suggest divine radiance or a supernatural occurrence. The people at the bottom are dressed in what appears to be religious or ceremonial robes, their faces looking up in awe or worship, their bodies arranged to create a sense of momentum and upward movement in harmony with the theme of ascension. The contrast between the simplicity of the figures and the dynamic lines emphasizes the spiritual and miraculous context of the scene, which is central to the artwork.
