temptation — Emanuel Cabrera

The Temptation of Matthew 4
2023
Acrylic on wood
26 x 38 in

Matthew 4:1 outlines what is occurring in “The Temptation of Matthew 4”, where the cunning enemy attempts to tempt Jesus Christ in the wilderness. The artwork is a cross between cartoon rendering and abstract painting techniques, to create a work full of color, movement, and simplicity. The background is a blended wash of blue and yellow, as the work’s setting is a sunset landscape, symbolizing hope and renewal. The foreground elements are rendered in a cartoon style and colored in white.

Jesus and Satan, the subjects of the work, are painted on a piece of cardboard that allows them to pop, which is then attached to the rest of the work. What is strikingly different in this work is how the enemy attempts to be cunning with his tricks and proposals, but Jesus seems to be unaffected and even unimpressed by them, as He knows who He is, the Son of God, and maintains His position. Jesus’ attitude before the enemy must be the same posture we take before any temptation or trick, as we know that we are Children of God and have authority over the enemy.