The Surreal Psalm 23 – Part 4: The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

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Psalm 23

© Kerry M. Pierce

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two techniques which are used in Surrealistic Paintings are:

  1. Assigning attributes or properties to something that doesn’t possess those properties. A good example of this is Salvador Dali’s The Persistence of Memory, more commonly known as Soft Watches.
  2. The double image. A simple example of this is two faces and a vase illustration. Two identical faces in silhouette pointed towards one another against a white background. A vase or wine glass is formed in the space between the two faces.

The use of these techniques may give the work a deeper meaning.

The scallop shell in the Surreal Psalm 23 relies on the second technique, the double image, borrowing from Dali’s The Madonna of Port Lligat.  The first reading of this portion of the image is a scallop shell with three drops of water falling from it.  In Christian Symbolism, the scallop shell is the symbol of Baptism.  In the second reading of scallop shell we see a dove swooping upwards forming the bottom side of the shell.  In Christian Symbolism, the dove is the symbol of the Holy Spirit.  Combining the two elements we have the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Finally, note how the shape of the scallop shell is present in the hand above. The Holy Spirit present poured out onto believers.

So I am taking Psalm 23:5b, “you anoint my head with oil,” and morphing it into the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

In part 5 we will follow the scallop shell theme further.