Head of Christ. Warner Sallman, 1940.

This image by Sallman has defined our collective image of Jesus for generations. 

It arose out of the Protestant “Muscular Christianity” movement: “a reaction to fears that urban life was making men weak and unmanly. Protestant leaders wanted a stronger, more masculine Christ to inspire young men, and Sallman aimed to deliver exactly that. He later called his image a “manly” Jesus.” (Isn’t it such a stark contrast from the images that might be called “manly” today?)

This rendering of Christ was immediately popular but somewhat constrained to its place of origin in the Midwest; this all changed during World War 2. Sallman’s Jesus was used as part of a campaign called “Christ in Every Purse” and every soldier had one in his wallet. From there the dissemination of the image only grew. 

And now even today, when we picture Jesus, it usually looks something like this 

https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/615-your-own-personal-jesus/

Some folks aren’t grateful for what Jesus has delivered to them. Not me, though. Because I know my history and am deeply aware that if it wasn’t for his ultimate sacrifice, we wouldn’t have the Cadbury Cream Eggs we have today.

Rated 💯 by multiple networks. Fluent in /unglish. Unbothered by /whatday of the week it is.

Allegedly a designer.

thanks jeez. could really go for an egg rn