The most popular image of Jesus Christ in the world—a white man with blue eyes, wavy brown hair, and a soft, peaceful gaze—comes from Head of Christ, a 1940 painting by Chicago artist Warner Sallman. It’s been reproduced over a billion times, shaping how millions imagine Jesus.
But its dominance also cemented a white Jesus in the cultural imagination. Scholars point out that the historical Jesus, a Middle Eastern Jew, likely had darker skin. Yet Head of Christ reinforced whiteness as central to Christian identity in America. As historian David Morgan puts it, “It gave white Americans a Jesus that was theirs.”
White Jesus predates the '40s by quite a long way. European Christians have been depicting him that way for centuries. I’m pretty sure Americans had a white Jesus before then as well.
Sadly, it’s hard to find accurate depictions of Jesus in the western world.
99% invisible just released a podcast on this subject ☞ https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/615-your-own-personal-jesus/
White Jesus predates the '40s by quite a long way. European Christians have been depicting him that way for centuries. I’m pretty sure Americans had a white Jesus before then as well.
Sadly, it’s hard to find accurate depictions of Jesus in the western world.
i read that it was Da Vinci era likely due to instruction from the popes. some say Da Vinci’s depictions of Jesus were self portraits.
“Skin of bronze and hair of Sheep’s wool”
This was a great episode and I’m happy to see you posted it, since I was also like, “I just learned about this!!”
i remember this portrait from some time ago
it sounded like a reasonable reconstruction: https://www.popularmechanics.com/culture/a41336100/real-jesus-face/
Ah fuck I need to go listen to more Depeche Mode
Pick up the receiver, I’ll make you a believer.
“Racists prefer to think of themselves as special.”