(Forgiveness)

Actual title, year, medium unknown. Courtesy of Clarke University

I call this Forgiveness because I see a figure kneeling in the middle of the painting, its hands outstretched and palms up. The figure faces a great white light and touches the light peripherally, as does one knee. Most of the figure remains in the natural world, with browns, dark golds and greens on the outside, and a heated red-orange closer to the figure.

The red-orange may represent evil, or the fires of hell. Perhaps this person is wrestling in the hotseat, in the middle of heated passion or turmoil.

The strong white on the right suggests this figure has hope. Through prayer, he calls back the blessings and peace of a higher power. The goodness of God, His grace and His forgiveness is approaching and is moving toward the figure.There is some white in the center that could be the hand of God, ready to embrace the figure.

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Portrait of a mid-century contemporary artist, AKA Ann Walsh