Christ and the Woman of Samaria

Discussion

FROM THE BARNES FOUNDATION’S CATALOG

Horace Pippin's Christ and the Woman of Samaria depicts the Gospel story in which a member of the Samaritan people—who did not ordinarily mix with Jews—recognized Jesus as the Messiah while drawing him water from a well (John 4). Pippin's composition draws from Renaissance examples, but other elements, such as the protagonists' candid confrontation and the clash between the fuchsia sky and the darkened tree line, are daringly modern. The dark skin of Christ and the Samaritan woman may reflect an attempt at historical accuracy as well as an allusion to the gospel song "Jesus Met the Woman at the Well" or to African American spirituality more generally.

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