My favourite baby Jesus painting is the one of Mary
in her halo giving him a spanking in front of witnesses
by Max Ernst, the German, who helped found Dada
and became involved with Surrealism, quietly distancing
himself without rancour and being interned by the Nazis
when they invaded France and escaping to America
where he met up once again with Andre Breton and
Marcel Duchamp, briefly married Peggy Guggenheim
before going back to Europe, and becoming more abstract,
lyrical. I’ve met none of them. Not Max, Marcel or Andre.
Jesus, Mary, Peggy. Although I’ve read accounts. Seen
some photographs. Had clever thoughts. In the painting,
the baby Jesus is big and blonde and Aryan. His mother,
I imagine, is trying to beat some sense into him. At least
that’s my understanding. The three witnesses
appear aloof, disinterested. Only present for posterity.
Andre Breton, Paul Eluard (the poet), Ernst himself.
Steven Taylor
Picture Max Ernst
.