Henry Ossawa Tanner’s artwork “Christ and His Disciples on the Sea of Galilee” from 1910 is a religious painting that draws on the Symbolism art movement. This painting embodies Tanner’s interpretation of a well-known biblical narrative, with the genre further enhancing the evocative and thought-provoking nature of the scene.
The artwork presents a scene set during the blue tones of either dusk or dawn, with the celestial light gently piercing through the clouds. The composition is dominated by dark hues, with the vast expanse of the Sea of Galilee stretching into the horizon. A boat occupies the central part of the painting, its sails partially unfurled, suggesting either the commencement or the end of a voyage. Figures huddled within the boat can be discerned amidst the darkness, which might be interpreted as Christ with His disciples. The artwork carries a sense of calm amidst turmoil, reflected in the stoic stillness of the figures contrasted with the unsettled sea, symbolizing perhaps the spiritual reassurance Christ provided to his followers during a storm. Tanner’s brushwork and use of color achieve a balance between the realism of the scene and a certain mystical quality, appropriate for the religious experience being depicted.