Medical Museum
Art That Heals: The Image as Medicine
in Ethiopia
Images and Asceticism
| The ascetic ideal lies at the heart of the Ethiopian conception of the workings of the image. In Gondar in 1932, the priest and painter Kasa, a native of the town, told Griaule, "One has to repent [mazen] and pray in order to paint. When one paints after sleeping with a woman or committing some other sin, after getting drunk or gorging on food, the Holy Spirit will not come to inhabit the painting [sel], and if one prays to the painting, the prayer is not fulfilled." Goha-Tsebah, a professor of theology in Addis Ababa, similarly remarks, "The rule is that the painter must not be a sinner--he must be pure, religious. If someone prays on [such] a painting, God can work miracles. The painting speaks and it also cures." |
29. Martyrdom of St. George. The Archangel Michael gave St. George the strength to renounce his faith before a pagan king, who condemned him to be tortured. He is the most honored of the martyrs; indeed he is called the "King of Martyrs." This image is painted in the Second Gondarine Style. From an "Acts of St. George," eighteenth century, parchment, this page 34.5 x 31.5 cm. Private collection. Photo courtesy of Guy Vivien |
30.Crucifixion. According to Ethiopian tradition, a depiction of the Crucifixion by John was the beginning of narrative painting. Historically, however, the crucifix image was unusual in Ethiopia until the increase of Western influence at the end of the fifteenth century. This image reveals the influence of Northern European schools, most obviously in the hair and the flowers. It is the right panel of a diptych; the other panel, showing the Apostle Paul, is signed "Elyab." It is rare for an Ethiopian work to reveal such a signature. Early sixteenth century. Was kept in the museum of Lalibela in 1981. Photo courtesy of Jacques Mercier, 1981 |
Text courtesy of Mercier, Jacques. Art That Heals: the Image as Medicine in Ethiopia. New York: Prestel Books and The Museum For African Art, 1997.
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