Who painted The Great Symbol?

The Great Symbol was painted by William Lee Hankey in 1919.

Where can I see The Great Symbol?

The Great Symbol is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

Artwork

The Great Symbol

William Lee Hankey , 1919

The Great Symbol is a print by William Lee Hankey. It dates from 1919 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

The Great Symbol, a print by British artist William Lee Hankey (1869-1940), deviates from his typical themes of pastoral life and rural domesticity, instead depicting a dramatic and somber scene of a crucified figure.

Subject & Meaning

Contrasting with Hankey's usual focus on everyday rural life, this work portrays a man nailed to a cross, emphasizing the physical struggle through the contorted body posture. The subject's identity and the artist's intent behind this departure from his common themes are not explicitly stated, leaving interpretation open.

Technique & Style

Executed with dark, scratchy lines, the print accentuates the figure's muscular and skeletal structure, eschewing soft details. The rough-hewn cross with visible wood grain adds to the overall sense of stark realism. The dramatic use of light and shadow, characteristic of chiaroscuro, heightens the emotional intensity of the scene.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1919, The Great Symbol is now part of The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection. The specific circumstances of its creation and early ownership history are not detailed here.