Abstract / DOI
Images of the Bible – Bible of Images: Biblical Illustrations and Revelation. The bible is full of graphical motives which have inspired artists to paint biblical topics. But there is a fundamental difference: Neither can texts be totally transformed into pictures nor can pictures be transformed into texts. Both media have their own specific and unique qualities. Reading a text means discovering an idea word by word, sentence by sentence. In contrast, a picture presents all in one moment and shows a special kind of presence: simultaneity of different acts. This quality makes pictures irreplaceable. Looking at biblical illustrations several functions have been emphasized. In addition this quality has to be introduced as a function of revelation. Three different biblical illustrations from different epochs are analyzed to explain this function. In each case the function of revelation evokes an experience with the spectator which cannot be expressed in words in an adequate way.