The white crucifixion is a favorite image of Pope Francis. It is a piece with very rich symbolism, referring to the origin of the Christ, the situation of the Jews and the geopolitical one - when the painting was created.
White crucifixion
The first background shows the crucified Jesus. Attention is drawn to the robe in which he is wrapped - it is a tallit, or shawl, used by Jews during prayer. This can be interpreted as Christ's belonging to the Jewish community, for the Nazarene was born under the law.
The left side of the painting shows overturned, burning houses. This is a reference to the dramas of the Jews that took place in Germany in the 1930s and 1940s.
A boat with people can also be seen, presumably these are Jews who are fleeing the United States from socialism. The artist also placed the marching revolutionaries (right) and the souls of the dead - just above the Messiah.
Marc Chagall is undoubtedly a painter with a rich and difficult history. Through his work, he expressed his memories and indicated that despite suffering and hardships, true happiness can be discovered precisely in God.
