Warner Sallman And The Branding Of Jesus Christ

The Head of Christ by Warner Sallman, 1941

A couple of inspira-things.

Sallman's Christ Our Pilot, which paved the way...

...for this. Calvary by Stephen Sawyer

And Sallman lives on.

This is the image that turned Jesus into an American idol. It is The Head of Christ by Warner Sallman, a painting reproduced half a billion times and the very genesis of today's rank commodification of the Man from Galilee.

The year was 1941 and much of the world waged a great war. Here in the United States, the enormous mechanics of mass marketing and propaganda were being trucked out in full force. Industry became adept at making copies upon copies to satisfy the rising behemoth of consumer culture. Hollywood was hitting it's stride and rock n' roll was just on the horizon.

When this glamourous and virile rendering of Jesus appeared, the potential for exploitation was enormous. It was seized upon by Anthony Kriebel and Fred Bates, employees of The Gospel Trumpet Company, and reproductions of The Head of Christ became an industry of it's own.

Warner Sallman was a commercial artist cum theological student who plied his artistic trade in the burgeoning world of Chicago advertising. The Head of Christ was born in 1924 as a charcoal sketch for the cover of The Covenant Companion. Some time later, when a group of students at McCormick Theological Seminary were asked to vote up images of Christ that seemed most accurate, Warner's sketch prevailed.

Over the years Sallman produced various incarnations of the piece when, in 1940, he was asked to do a full blown oil painting. This became the Jesus that caught the eye of Kriebel and Bates and soon The Head of Christ was everywhere.

It was the perfect image for the times. Strong and peaceful; its manly artistic rendition without precedent. This glowing, Anglo-centric picture of Jesus had the look of a celebrity photograph and — with the nation reeling from the attack at Pearl Harbor — was a fitting icon to represent God and Country. The Head of Christ was indiscriminately displayed in libraries, courthouses, post offices and schools; plastered on clocks, lamps, buttons and bumperstickers. For a while it seemed every white, middle-class American household had at least one Sallman Jesus.

Predating Kevin Smith's Buddy Christ by decades, the wallet-sized cards of our Holy Cousin were particularly popular. So popular that printing presses would run non-stop for several days at a time with many describing the familial image as "looking exactly like Jesus."

Evidently comforting in it's ubiquity, Sallman would repurpose his Jesus in a variety of poses and scenarios over the years. There was no mistaking his Christ. He is always the same: backlit flowing hair, high forehead, sharp nose. It is arguably the most popular image of Jesus ever made and a twentieth century marketing phenomenon.

Today the brand of Christ is flourishing, due in no small part to this great flood of Sallman's Jesuses. The market for Christian trinkets and trash is a built-in goldmine. Slap a fish or a cross or any of the million imitations of Sallman's Christ on an item and it will find a home simply by virtue of it being labeled 'Christian'. There are Christian versions of every genre of music. Christian board games. Christian lines of clothing. Christian school supplies. Christian flatware. It goes on and on.

Sallman and his exploiters opened the door to a seemingly oxymoronic flow of mass consumerism. For followers of a guy who said things like "take nothing with you" or "give it all away", there sure is a lot of interest and lucre in Jesus junk.

Is there some sort of ostensible piety in these earthly baubles? Does a Christian death metal band make any sense? Will some Christians buy anything emblazoned with an imagined vision of Jesus? In market-speak, is this the ultimate in brand loyalty?

Looking back, one has to wonder... what hath Sallman's The Head of Christ wrought?

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{"commentId":4694920,"authorDomain":"mock"}

Be nice. Jesus (and me) are watching you. :)

{"commentId":4694920,"threadId":"462919","contentId":"2281705","authorDomain":"mock"}

5 votes

#1 - Tue Jan 6, 2009 11:00 PM EST

{"commentId":4696715,"authorDomain":"fitzright"}

The worst example I ran across recently is Santa weeping in the arms of Jesus Christ after a stone angel reminds Santa of 9/11.

I really can't imagine why some people find this inspirational.

{"commentId":4696715,"threadId":"462919","contentId":"2281705","authorDomain":"fitzright"}

5 votes

#2 - Wed Jan 7, 2009 5:41 AM EST

{"commentId":4696737,"authorDomain":"redwolf"}

Red Wolf

The only way that could be any creepier is if it was on black velvet.

{"commentId":4696737,"threadId":"462919","contentId":"2281705","authorDomain":"redwolf"}

5 votes

#2.1 - Wed Jan 7, 2009 5:52 AM EST

{"commentId":4696778,"authorDomain":"paperdragon"}

It gets even worse.

{"commentId":4696778,"threadId":"462919","contentId":"2281705","authorDomain":"paperdragon"}

5 votes

#2.2 - Wed Jan 7, 2009 6:17 AM EST

{"commentId":4696803,"authorDomain":"redwolf"}

Red Wolf

What's more scary is that there's a market for this kind of tat.

{"commentId":4696803,"threadId":"462919","contentId":"2281705","authorDomain":"redwolf"}

5 votes

#2.3 - Wed Jan 7, 2009 6:26 AM EST

{"commentId":4696811,"authorDomain":"paperdragon"}

Hey, collect the whole set!

{"commentId":4696811,"threadId":"462919","contentId":"2281705","authorDomain":"paperdragon"}

4 votes

#2.4 - Wed Jan 7, 2009 6:28 AM EST

{"commentId":4696897,"authorDomain":"mock"}

Yeesh.

So... is there some brave soul who will speak up for this heresy? Indeed, who buys this stuff? Nobody I know.

I suppose, though, that it comes with the territory. If God wants to submit His Boy to a fallen world, this is bound to happen.

{"commentId":4696897,"threadId":"462919","contentId":"2281705","authorDomain":"mock"}

5 votes

#2.5 - Wed Jan 7, 2009 6:56 AM EST

{"commentId":4696914,"authorDomain":"paperdragon"}

That's why Islam prohibits depictions of the Prophet. They don't want to see statues of Muhammad playing soccer. ;-)

{"commentId":4696914,"threadId":"462919","contentId":"2281705","authorDomain":"paperdragon"}

6 votes

#2.6 - Wed Jan 7, 2009 7:00 AM EST

{"commentId":4701378,"authorDomain":"fitzright"}

Actually, this imagery comes really close to the 'false idols' Christians abhor.

Matthew 3:12 And then Jesus came skating in the icerink and wanted the players to have a fair game. And thusly happened, hence this statue.

{"commentId":4701378,"threadId":"462919","contentId":"2281705","authorDomain":"fitzright"}

4 votes

#2.7 - Wed Jan 7, 2009 12:38 PM EST

{"commentId":4742722,"authorDomain":"mock"}

If memory serves, there have been several big schisms (iconoclasm) in the histories of different faiths regarding sacred imagery. It's not something with which members have ever been totally comfortable.

Also - if memory serves - the Orthodox Church has a set of rules regarding the making of icons. They're kind of like songs or prayers in that one doesn't produce a 'new' icon; it's always a reading of imagery that came before. As a painter, I find that pretty interesting.

Have to believe some of this would send an Orthodox Christian up a wall.

{"commentId":4742722,"threadId":"462919","contentId":"2281705","authorDomain":"mock"}

3 votes

#2.8 - Fri Jan 9, 2009 8:35 PM EST

{"commentId":4696806,"authorDomain":"paperdragon"}

An assortment of Jesus action figures.

Cross not included.

{"commentId":4696806,"threadId":"462919","contentId":"2281705","authorDomain":"paperdragon"}

4 votes

#3 - Wed Jan 7, 2009 6:26 AM EST

{"commentId":4696910,"authorDomain":"mock"}

Cross not included.

That's actually kind of profound if you think about it. More later...

{"commentId":4696910,"threadId":"462919","contentId":"2281705","authorDomain":"mock"}

4 votes

#3.1 - Wed Jan 7, 2009 7:00 AM EST

{"commentId":4698147,"authorDomain":"inghar2004"}

gladbutterfly

Thanks for the morning endwarfins, Steve and everyone. LOLOLOLMFAO. Too much. Here's a story about a living brand.

{"commentId":4698147,"threadId":"462919","contentId":"2281705","authorDomain":"inghar2004"}

2 votes

#3.2 - Wed Jan 7, 2009 9:30 AM EST

{"commentId":4698403,"authorDomain":"MrsChrist"}

Well I don't think Jesus is a white man and I think his Father in Heaven is a Black Female Spirit.

Peace out

{"commentId":4698403,"threadId":"462919","contentId":"2281705","authorDomain":"MrsChrist"}

1 vote

#4 - Wed Jan 7, 2009 9:51 AM EST

{"commentId":4698949,"authorDomain":"mock"}

In Christ there is no black or white.

Peace in.

{"commentId":4698949,"threadId":"462919","contentId":"2281705","authorDomain":"mock"}

4 votes

#4.1 - Wed Jan 7, 2009 10:25 AM EST

{"commentId":4699727,"authorDomain":"MrsChrist"}

And where did you see that in the Bible....Now I admit; that Jesus is the way, the truth, the life and the Light; but light does not mean white. As the bible says in the beginning; GOD showed her Face as Darkness as Her spirit moved upon the waters....and Then said "Let there be Light" So this proves; that GOD is Dark and Jer. 8:19 clearly says; I Am Black, so I really dont understand How people got a blond hair blue eyed Jesus Christ.

Peace out

{"commentId":4699727,"threadId":"462919","contentId":"2281705","authorDomain":"MrsChrist"}

1 vote

#4.2 - Wed Jan 7, 2009 11:09 AM EST

{"commentId":4699822,"authorDomain":"mock"}

And where did you see that in the Bible...

I didn't.

I Am Black, so I really dont understand How people got a blond hair blue eyed Jesus Christ.

Sure you do.

{"commentId":4699822,"threadId":"462919","contentId":"2281705","authorDomain":"mock"}

3 votes

#4.3 - Wed Jan 7, 2009 11:15 AM EST

{"commentId":4700215,"authorDomain":"MrsChrist"}

Do you Mock me Steve? Careful now cause Stephen was the 1st martyred saint

Jer. 8:21 actually says "I Am Black" but so is GOD's Daughter

Peace out

{"commentId":4700215,"threadId":"462919","contentId":"2281705","authorDomain":"MrsChrist"}

#4.4 - Wed Jan 7, 2009 11:36 AM EST

{"commentId":4700767,"authorDomain":"fitzright"}

The King James translation indeed states 'I am black' in Jeremiah 8:21, but other translations have interpreted that as being 'in mourning', as in the traditional custom when people in mourning used to rub their faces with ashes.

When you read the King James bible and look at the context of the statement however, it is a bit of a stretch to conclude that when saying 'I am black' God actually refers to his skin color.

Furthermore, god's daughter is in these verses a figure of speech, meaning the people that need protecting and healing after others have woefully changed the word of god with their pens. And never once is she called black.

I'm an atheist by the way, but I can look clinically at the bible and like to now and then confirm for myself that I'm still immune to the so-called divine.

{"commentId":4700767,"threadId":"462919","contentId":"2281705","authorDomain":"fitzright"}

3 votes

#4.5 - Wed Jan 7, 2009 12:04 PM EST

{"commentId":4700803,"authorDomain":"mock"}

Do you Mock me Steve?

(Gosh... never heard that one before.) You fascinate me, Marsha. I couldn't lampoon such an enigmatic riddle as yourself on my best day.

Jer. 8:21 actually says "I Am Black"

I know it does. But it doesn't mean what you think it means. And I also think it is past tense. i.e. "I was black." Sorry.

You're wandering. So... in an effort to get you back on topic:

Got any cheesy pics or stories to share of your black female God?

{"commentId":4700803,"threadId":"462919","contentId":"2281705","authorDomain":"mock"}

4 votes

#4.6 - Wed Jan 7, 2009 12:06 PM EST

{"commentId":4701073,"authorDomain":"MrsChrist"}

You know all of my life, I have been told that when God says or prophets use words they dont mean what people think they mean. Its always about the translation, etc, but tell me this if the bible was translated from Hebrew, persian, Greek, etc. How did I Am Black in Jer. 8:21 and I am Black in Sol 1:6 " I am Black get translated different?

How did son mean a male, but a daughter turn out not to mean a female, How did the voice of a Bride and Bridegroom come to mean only the male gender?

When GOD said in Gen. 1:26-27 Let US make man in our own image; after our likeness and let them have dominion.........Male AND Female made He THEM. Why do you or anyone else look at the word "THEM" and thinking it does not THEM BOTH or Both Genders i.e., Male and Females? What preverse train of thought made men think GOD was only talking about the males? Plus if GOD could beget a Son using a normal virgin woman; Dont you think GOD could beget a Daughter; using the MOTHER OF HARLOTS?

But to answer your question; take a look at my post; and you will find; Your Momma is as Fat and Black as Aunt Jemima grinning at you on the pancake box. In fact Your Momma is so Fat that even Jesus Christ himself calls Her our Fat Her who art in Heaven.

So think as Jemima; Job 42:14 as your Aunt and me as Kizzi which was Bell and Kunta Kintas daughter from the mini seriers Roots when you look this verse up

Peace out

{"commentId":4701073,"threadId":"462919","contentId":"2281705","authorDomain":"MrsChrist"}

#4.7 - Wed Jan 7, 2009 12:22 PM EST

{"commentId":4701165,"authorDomain":"paperdragon"}

How did I Am Black in Jer. 8:21 and I am Black in Sol 1:6 " I am Black get translated different?

Did you ever stop to think that 2000 years ago, black only meant the actual color, not the skin color?

{"commentId":4701165,"threadId":"462919","contentId":"2281705","authorDomain":"paperdragon"}

5 votes

#4.8 - Wed Jan 7, 2009 12:27 PM EST

{"commentId":4701271,"authorDomain":"fitzright"}

So we can conclude that you do not like the image of JC as featured in the article we are discussing? Neither do I.

Peace, Marsha.

{"commentId":4701271,"threadId":"462919","contentId":"2281705","authorDomain":"fitzright"}

3 votes

#4.9 - Wed Jan 7, 2009 12:32 PM EST

{"commentId":4701316,"authorDomain":"MrsChrist"}

But that doesnt make sense Dennis because in Sol 1:6 David is talking about his skin color. Did you ever think people told people the word Black was referring to mourning, because they could not admit or accept that GOD is Black and so actually very very Dark which is why You cant See HER, Why you Cant see a Black Hole, and Why when "at first we see through the glass darkly"

Hermanutically you have to keep things in order; and see that GOD divided Herself between the Dark and the Light; i.e., 12:00 midnight or evening and 12:00 noon day. It takes BOTH to make One Day, which is why the bible says, the Evening and the Morning were one day.

Peace out

{"commentId":4701316,"threadId":"462919","contentId":"2281705","authorDomain":"MrsChrist"}

#4.10 - Wed Jan 7, 2009 12:35 PM EST

{"commentId":4701470,"authorDomain":"mock"}

Marsha. Not germane. You are threadjacking. Stop it.

{"commentId":4701470,"threadId":"462919","contentId":"2281705","authorDomain":"mock"}

3 votes

#4.11 - Wed Jan 7, 2009 12:43 PM EST

{"commentId":4701636,"authorDomain":"MrsChrist"}

Sorry; Steve; just forget I said anything.

Have a Good Day

{"commentId":4701636,"threadId":"462919","contentId":"2281705","authorDomain":"MrsChrist"}

#4.12 - Wed Jan 7, 2009 12:53 PM EST

{"commentId":4801982,"authorDomain":"YuriyBilokonsky"}

Yuriy Bilokonsky

Wait... since when is God colored? What if God were one of us? Would He have to sit in the back of the Bus? Or do you think... maybe he'd be driving? I think God would have prefered the Bus, do you think He'd have participated in the Rosa Parks boycotts? And wasn't Mary White? So really Jeusus would be Malato. Although, I understand there are those who hold that Jesus was conceived using pre-fall embryos from Adam and Eve. I've heard they were black. But really if a couple of antebellum black folk are gonna be in a Garden would the owner really be a black woman? Think about it. Preposterous!

Put the pieces together Woman!

{"commentId":4801982,"threadId":"462919","contentId":"2281705","authorDomain":"YuriyBilokonsky"}

1 vote

#4.13 - Wed Jan 14, 2009 1:50 AM EST

{"commentId":4807418,"authorDomain":"MrsChrist"}

As in the reply 4.5 the bible clearly says GOD said I am Black. Although I'm sure GOD doesnt mind being called colored; in the beginning; GOD just showed Her Face as Darkness, and remember GOD is Not a man that he should lie. As a matter of fact; Jesus Christ is not GOD Almighty, he was Her son sent 1st as He/r representative. So since they killed him, now GOD will send Her lunatic daughter - Satan who has even been allowed to get away with murder.

Remember Male AND Female made He them. So the He here is Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD. He did everything GOD said, and We all benefited from it, including Satan.

Peace out

{"commentId":4807418,"threadId":"462919","contentId":"2281705","authorDomain":"MrsChrist"}

#4.14 - Wed Jan 14, 2009 12:22 PM EST

{"commentId":4807570,"authorDomain":"mock"}

Way to go, Yuriy. Take it outside, you two.

{"commentId":4807570,"threadId":"462919","contentId":"2281705","authorDomain":"mock"}

2 votes

#4.15 - Wed Jan 14, 2009 12:29 PM EST

{"commentId":4762218,"authorDomain":"patriciaad"}

patriciaad

Is there some sort of ostensible piety in these earthly baubles? Does a Christian death metal band make any sense? Will some Christians buy anything emblazoned with an imagined vision of Jesus?

Thank you for presenting this in a tasteful way. I have always rejected these symbols, as a Christian - it's not about buying popular trinkets for display.

I've always thought the popular renderings of Jesus were odd. There's something so superficial about them. I watched a well-done scientific documentary - (perhaps you remember it?) Taking a skull of a Jewish man from the region Jesus was from, a face was formed of what he probably looked like. It was so very different than these popular portrayals - I realized it had to be closer to the truth. Dark brown eyes, a large, broad nose, large features, dark skin and very dark hair - what a typical man from his region and ethnicity would have looked like.

Maybe some people just can't let go of that white bread image...but I can

{"commentId":4762218,"threadId":"462919","contentId":"2281705","authorDomain":"patriciaad"}

3 votes

#5 - Sun Jan 11, 2009 10:05 AM EST

{"commentId":4765103,"authorDomain":"redwolf"}

Red Wolf

It's not just a white bread image.

Many missionaries in the South Pacific Islands would convert the locals by telling them that Jesus looked like they do, so they had to convert now. There must be a weird culture shock moving between grass skirt wearing Fijian Jesus and white bread Jesus and discovering that someone's been having a lend.

{"commentId":4765103,"threadId":"462919","contentId":"2281705","authorDomain":"redwolf"}

3 votes

#5.1 - Sun Jan 11, 2009 3:06 PM EST

{"commentId":4772557,"authorDomain":"mock"}

Thank you for presenting this in a tasteful way.

I did my best. Thank you for recognizing that.

someone's been having a lend.

I like that expression!

I am not so much discouraged by inaccurate representations as I am by the marketing aspect. But then, would such marketing efforts be as successful with an ethnic Jesus? Not in the U.S. and definitely not in the 40s and 50s.

And what of cultures that don't even know what a lamb is, for example?

I remember hearing of a missionary trying to explain the Genesis bit about having to live by "the sweat of our brow" as a result of the fall to someone in a tropical climate. The student replied, "But we are always sweating!"

{"commentId":4772557,"threadId":"462919","contentId":"2281705","authorDomain":"mock"}

3 votes

#5.2 - Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:34 AM EST

{"commentId":4772879,"authorDomain":"joelgreco"}

joelly21

Steve

First, one of the Ten Commandments orders the abstinence of producing and worshiping images.

Second, although many acquire these momentums as a constant reminder of their beliefs they simultaneously can become a cure all.

It is curious that on one hand there can be so prevalent artifacts of forgiveness, honor, Love, loyalty etc. and at the same time the world can be void of such to the extent that it finds itself in the condition it is in today.

It’s time to trade in the trinkets for the real thing.

{"commentId":4772879,"threadId":"462919","contentId":"2281705","authorDomain":"joelgreco"}

1 vote

#6 - Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:08 AM EST

{"commentId":4773130,"authorDomain":"mock"}