the word pitched his tent
Corita Kent, the word pitched his tent, 1962, color screenprint on wove paper, The Vivian and Gordon Gilkey Graphic Arts Collection, © Corita Art Center, Immaculate Heart Community, Los Angeles, CA, 84.25.652
This work is not currently on view.
- Title
the word pitched his tent
- Artist
- Date
1962
- Medium
color screenprint on wove paper
- Edition
edition of 95
- Catalogue Raisonné
CAC 62-32
- Dimensions (H x W x D)
image: 19 in x 27 1/2 in; sheet: 25 5/8 in x 30 3/4 in
- Inscriptions & Markings
signature: Sister Mary Corita IHM, black ink, lower right
title: the word pitched his tent, black ink, lower left
- Collection Area
Graphic Arts
- Category
Prints
- Object Type
stencil print
- Culture
American
- Credit Line
The Vivian and Gordon Gilkey Graphic Arts Collection
- Accession Number
84.25.652
- Copyright
© Corita Art Center, Immaculate Heart Community, Los Angeles, CA
- Terms
In the early 1960s, Kent began to simplify her compositions and use abstract imagery, while still infusing her work with religious precepts. In this print, she paired black shapes against an abstracted landscape of pink and orange hills. Only the title hints at a biblical narrative, referring to John 1:14, which describes Jesus as "pitching his tent" among humankind.
Throughout her work, Kent privileged the humanity of Jesus and his engagement with ordinary people over the concept of a remote and judgmental God. For this passage, she hewed closely to the original Greek text, choosing the more evocative translation "pitched his tent" versus "dwelt." The somewhat comical notion of Jesus camping beside modern men and women greatly appealed to Kent.
- Exhibitions
2016 Corita Kent: Spiritual Pop Portland Art Museum
