On View
On viewObject number2005.11
The Visitation
Artist
Henry Ossawa Tanner
(American, 1859-1937)
Dateca.1909-1910
Mediumoil on canvas
Dimensionsframe: 49 1/2 × 54 1/8 × 3 1/8 in. (125.7 × 137.5 × 7.9 cm)
image: 37 1/2 × 42 1/2 in. (95.3 × 108 cm)
image: 37 1/2 × 42 1/2 in. (95.3 × 108 cm)
Credit LineGift of Ronda Stryker and William Johnston
Exhibition History"The Spiritual Vision of Henry Ossawa Tanner," Muskegon Museum of Art (Oct. 30, 2008 - Feb. 27, 2009).
"Embracing Diverse Voices: African-American Art in the Collection of the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts," KIA Galleries 3&4 (Oct. 3 - Nov. 29, 2009).
"Lasting Legacy: A Collection for Kalamazoo," Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Kalamazoo, Michigan (Sep. 6, 2014 - Jan. 4, 2015).
"Resilience: African American Artists as Agents of Change," at the KIA (September 14, 2019 - February 16, 2020).
"Unveiling American Genius," KIA Permanent Collection Exhibition, Traditional, Markin, Nay and Groos Galleries (March 1, 2021 - December 31, 2023).
Label TextThis painting presents the meeting between Mary and her cousin Elizabeth, as recounted in the Bible. Both women are pregnant—Elizabeth’s son will be John the Baptist and Mary will give birth to Jesus. According to the story, Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit when the future mother of Christ arrives and John the Baptist kicks joyfully in his mother’s womb in response to Christ’s presence.
The artist includes the viewer in this private moment by bringing Elizabeth and the table close to the picture plane and placing them at the viewer’s level. The intimate space and dramatic use of light and shade, especially the shadow cast by Elizabeth’s form, heighten the emotion of the scene.
Religion always played an important role in Henry Ossawa Tanner’s life. With the artistic freedom he found in Europe, this African-American artist built a successful career and international reputation. From the 1890s until the end of his life, Tanner painted exclusively religious scenes.
