collection Lakenhal

Pope

The chalk drawing Pope, was made by Maurice Braspenning last spring, on the occasion of the exhibition Lucas van Leyden and the Renaissance at De Lakenhal. Twelve contemporary artists translated Lucas van Leyden’s Last Judgement into current events. Using chalk on panel with blackboard paint, Maurice Braspenning portrayed the current Pope Benedict XVI in a large format. With this portrait, he points to the role of the church in today’s society. Braspenning shows no heaven or hell to warn us, but criticises the Pope in his powerful position and depicts him as a doomed man with a black hole in his soul. From 6 December, this fine addition, to the five paintings the museum already owns of his, will be on display.