Coloring, Catholicism, Van Gogh and Chagall's White Crucifixion

After a trip to The Art Institute here in Chicago to see the the exhibit, Van Gogh’s Bedrooms, I’ve become interested in the paintings of Van Gogh and the museum itself. I’ve also become a big fan of adult coloring books and I was able to purchase a Van Gogh coloring book in one of the museum gift shops.

The interesting thing about all this, is the impact it has had on my faith. Viewing Van Gogh’s bedrooms and the exhibit themed around them was one of those extraordinary experiences. Each brush stroke in the paintings seemed to speak of the beauty that God has for us. The exhibit is very well done and I felt the love and care that was put into it.

Recently I returned to the museum to see Chagall's White Crucifixion, Pope Francis’ favorite painting. The painting is set in a very stark environment so it can be viewed without distraction. However, on the side walls there is an abundant amount of information concerning the painting, Marc Chagall and his relationship with The Art Institute. I can understand why Pope Francis calls this beautiful work of art his favorite. I could have stood there for much longer than I did and just absorbed this miraculous image. I’m hoping to return to see it again.

Bishop Robert Barron has a video on YouTube entitled “Evangelizing Through Beauty.” “It’s hard to resist the beautiful,” Bishop Barron states in the video. Whether you are standing in front of a Van Gogh or Chagall painting it’s hard not to be drawn in. While viewing these works of art, my first thoughts are, “Where does this come from?” “How does the artist conceive of this?” Of course, it is God-given, even though the artist might not be a believer. God uses the artist to remind believers and to draw in non-believers to His continued presence in our lives.

The older I get, the more beauty I crave. I seek out the visual beauty of the every day as well as the extraordinary beauty that is housed in museums. I think about my museum visits during the quiet times of the day. The visuals are reminders to me that God draws us all in through what is beautiful.

As I color my own rendition of Van Gogh’s Bedroom, I think of that tortured artist who produced such beauty, yet had so much conflict in his own beliefs. I whisper a prayer of “thank you” to him for opening my eyes to a whole new world of beauty and the strengthening of my faith.