Forms of expression – art

Pictures allow artists to express ideas that can be hard to convey in words.

The most common theme expressed in christian art is creation.

The best known example of this is Michelangelo in Rome. He painted scenes from the book of Genesis. His most famous paintings is the creation of Adam.

The creation of Adam focuses on the viewer’s attention on how dependent humanity is on God and als shows how humanity is made in the image of God.

In the painting, Adam is shown as a perfect man full of strength and potential

This reflects what is taught in Genesis: that God made everything “very good” (Genesis 1:31)

Adam is shown as the ideal man. However, he is incomplete until God breathes his life force (the breath of life) into him. This shows that humans need God to be truly alive and complete, and that life itself comes from God.

In Michelangelo’s painting, God is powerful yet ancient. His white hair and beard show age and wisdom, but His muscular body shows strength and power.

God looks older than Adam, which suggests that God existed before humanity. This links to Revelation 22:13, where God says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” which highlights God’s eternal nature and power, compared to humanity’s youth and dependence.

Controversial aspects of the painting

Genesis 2 states that God made Adam out of dust, and brought him to life by breathing into his nostrils(Genesis 2:7). Nowhere in the Bible does it say that God touched Adam to give him life.

God and Adam are depicted as nearly the same size, suggesting that man is equal with God, which does not reflect Catholic teachings.