It's all in the eyes

The icon of the week is my copy of an Ethiopian triptych. A triptych is a three-part painting, sometimes hinged, sometimes not. This image dates from around the seventeenth century, although Ethiopian paintings can sometimes be hard to date.

I was drawn to this image because I like Ethiopian religious art. This icon has an almost cartoonish quality to it, which is not to downplay its significance or its impact

The eyes are the most noticeable feature of these figures, especially the eyes of Mary in the center panel. This is typical of Ethiopian art. In much of African art, Christian or otherwise, the head is the most prominent feature, often depicted out of proportion to the body of the person. It may be that the head and face are emphasized since the face is the most distinct feature of a person. Perhaps the eyes, the most expressive part of the face, are made larger for the same reason.

Our eyes can speak very clearly, often more clearly than our words. Through our eyes we can express sadness, joy, confusion, pain, delight, and a whole range of emotions. The famous quote, “The eye is the window to the soul” is attributed to Shakespeare and many other authors, but it doesn’t matter who said it. It’s true. We communicate so much through out eyes. They don’t lie.

Perhaps these figures have large eyes in order to communicate. They express the greatness of the truth that they witness, that they experience.
. In the left wing, the resurrected Christ at the top stands with his hands upraised, surrounded by saints or apostles. A military saint, possibly St. Demetrius, is on a horse at the lower left corner. In the right wing, the crucifixion is depicted at the top, again with saints or apostles below. At the bottom another military saint, possibly St. George, is mounted on a horse with a spear.