The Holy Communion. (1913)

Poul Steffensen is the artist behind "The Holy Communion.", dated 1913. The catalogue places it in Religion. The format is landscape. Background on Religion: Christian art follows long-established iconography, such as the Madonna and Child, the Annunciation, and the Crucifixion. Religious painting is among the largest bodies of art ever made, from altarpieces, icons, and illuminated manuscripts to devotional prints. Context for 1913: Dada and Surrealism followed the First World War, the Bauhaus school was founded in 1919, and Art Deco became the fashionable decorative style of the 1920s and 1930s. Posters, magazines, and illustrated books were major ways for the public to meet new art and design.

Everything for "The Holy Communion." arrives digitally: Digital JPEG + PDF files, 300 DPI. Once payment is confirmed, an email brings the download link, and from there you decide how to print it, whether at home, at a print shop, or through an online service. A landscape format suits wide, low wall spaces such as the stretch above a bed, mantel, or sideboard. Religious subjects rely on symbolism, gesture, and layered painterly drama, so they tend to read best in calm and composed interiors. Matching the frame to the image proportions avoids cropping. Hang the print away from direct sunlight, which over the years can fade any printed colour. Choosing a standard frame size and printing to fit it often saves the cost of custom framing. Screens and printers render colour differently, so a small test print is a sensible way to check tones before committing to a large size.

Danish, 1866–1923

If you like the visual language of Poul Steffensen, explore more works by the same artist in our collection.