Warner Sallman's 1940 painting, Head of Christ, created an iconic image of Jesus as a white man, profoundly influencing Christian imagery worldwide. Sallman, initially a commercial illustrator, had a vision that led him to first sketch Jesus's face in 1924, inspired partly by the cultural landscape of 'Muscular Christianity'. The painting was colorized at the suggestion of Warner Press in the late 1930s, leading to massive distribution during World War II, where it became a source of comfort for soldiers. This artwork has since been reproduced over a billion times, shaping millions’ imagination of the divine figure.
The turning point came in the late 1930s, when Warner Press, a Christian publisher, suggested turning Sallman's black-and-white sketch into a color oil painting.
Sallman's inspiration likely included Friend of the Humble (1892) by French artist Léon-Augustin Lhermitte, which he saw in Ladies' Home Journal.
Protestant leaders wanted a stronger, more masculine Christ to inspire young men, and Sallman aimed to deliver exactly that.
Sallman later called his image a 'manly' Jesus, reflecting the cultural demand for a Christ that embodied strength and masculinity.
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