Until modern times rarely would a person be painted or photographed smiling unless the artist wanted to insult his subjects. Religion and religious figures were taken very seriously, it would have been disrespectful to make them smile or laugh. Today, Christian artists depict the joyful part of Jesus’ human experience, artists like Kim and Olsen, to name just two.
Interesting. It really stands out. I will check them out. Thanks.
While I understand, I think, the reverence which inspired that dourness and the ecclesiatical Inquisitionary Puritanicalism enforcing it, it seems obvious today what a failure that rigid viewpoint is in presenting the full counsel of God.