The Last Supper (Dove) is a 1986 artwork by Andy Warhol. This ten-foot by 21-foot canvas includes a line drawing of the famous Last Supper mural by da Vinci. Superimposed on top of the image are the General Electric logo and the Dove soap bar logo and price. Symbols of light and cleanliness for cheap.
Messiaen’s commentary for Quartet for the End of Time, VIII. “Louange à l’Immortalité de Jésus” (Praise to the immortality of Jesus):
“Large violin solo, counterpart to the violoncello of the fifth movement. Why this second eulogy? It is especially aimed at the second aspect of Jesus, Jesus the Man, the Word made flesh, immortally risen for our communication of his life. It is all love. Its slow ascent to the acutely extreme is the ascent of man to his god, the child of God to his Father, the being made divine towards Paradise.”
Cost. Energy. Cleanliness. The ads in Warhol’s The Last Supper (Dove) superimpose reminders of everyday needs onto Christ’s sharing of Himself, the Son of God, with all humanity. Jesus reminded us that our Father knows what we need, and will provide it, instructing instead to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).
Though ads might cheapen a work of art, we see through the garish colors the deeper more significant event taking place. In the Christmas season, it is so easy to become desensitized by ads and our consumer-focused culture. We can look deeper; our God beckons us to witness his entry into the world beyond all that looks familiar to us.
Lord Emmanuel - You are “God with us.” Help point our minds to You not only in art and music but everything around us, for You are everywhere in our midst, though we don’t always see You.
Come, Lord. There might not be room at the inn, but there is room for You in our hearts.
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