Friday, February 19, 2010

Friday Follow-up: Who hath ears to hear...

Who Hath Ears to Hear Let Him Hear

Another artistic representation of the parable of the sower. This time the artist chose to use the King James Version. Interestingly, the art itself is more stylized which we tend to consider more modern or contemporary.
The first time we encountered this admonition "he who has ears let him hear" and the parable was back in November, an earlier Art Pilgrimage station.
Both artists chose a similar title and message, to visualize the different circumstances and responses to the Word.
The former is more literal and includes the actual words of Jesus and even scripture words woven into the painting. This one is more symbolic and colorful.
The latter bird is cute compared to the scary one in the previous station. This is probably a stretch never intended by the artist, but it occurred to me that the thieves, who like the birds come and eat up the seed, could be attractive, cute and interesting, all the more deceptive.
Several commented to me that this final panel, depicting the growth that results when we heed the Word, lacked green. Did the artist run out of time or are those many trunks of tall trees and we cannot even see the abundant foliage at the top? I am reminded of statements both in the Old  and New Testaments
“ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
   Nor have entered into the heart of man
   The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

We cannot begin to fathom what God has for us! 

"He who has ears, let him hear."

1 comment:

  1. Interesting comparison between the birds by the two artists. Not only is this one "cuter" but the colors in this painting are "happy" ones.

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