Conservative Roman Catholics in Seville, Spain, have raised objections to a poster depicting Jesus Christ, designed to promote Easter week, considering it offensive.
The poster features Christ in a half-nude portrayal with a beard and long hair, his lower half covered by a white cloth, set against a saturated red backdrop. Created by Seville-based artist Salustiano Garcia, the artwork aims to showcase “the radiant side of Holy Week” in the “purest style of this prestigious painter,” according to the council of brotherhoods and guilds overseeing Easter week events in Seville.
Holy week, commemorating the death and resurrection of Jesus, is marked by extensive celebrations in Seville. Spain’s ruling socialist party leader and former Seville mayor, Juan Espadas, defended the artwork, emphasizing its blend of “tradition and modernity.” The Archbishop of Seville also supported the work expressing artistic freedom.
However, some criticized the perceived sexuality of the poster, with the conservative Catholic group IPSE condemning it as “shameful” and “effeminate.” The far-right Vox party leader, Javier Navarro, accused the poster of seeking to provoke rather than encouraging Holy Week participation.
The artist, Salustiano Garcia, defended his creation, stating that the inspiration came from his son. He dismissed the claims of sexuality in his image, asserting that there was nothing in his painting that had not already been represented in artworks spanning centuries.
The fate of the poster remains uncertain, as a change.org petition seeking its repeal by Seville’s city hall garnered over 12,000 signatures in three days.
