Often decked out in Marian blue with a melancholic expression on her face, the Christian iconography of Virgin Mary not only conveys the notion of humanity but controls the psyche of humans with an invisible patriarchal slant though not transparent in the outer realm. The artists more often went beyond the colour binary that is highly entrenched in our culture, that is, pink for girls and blue for boys as Mary is the “queen of heaven” and blue depicts nothing but heaven.
Can the Mary in the scripture and Mary in the Christian iconography be tied together in a single rope as the gospels introduce ‘the god bearer’ as vivacious, courageous and determined who followed her son to the cross when the iconography make us known an alternative image of Mary which is more submissive and a bit down in the dumps?
Does the Christian iconography of Virgin Mary is an extension of our culture of toxic masculinity and submissive femininity?
Does the paintings of “Mother of God, High Princess, High Mother, Sister, The Goddess, Mother of the church” and more obviously the liberator for women aided in accomplishing the needs of the men by depicting the image of an 'Ideal women' that fits well with the patriarchal needs of the so-called society eventually leading to a culture of 'Ideal womanhood', that is, outright submission ? Does women stands for melancholy and agony ? Does women reminds us of submission and surrender ?
Where is the true emotions of mary, the high princess who initiated the ministry of Jesus at Cana ? Where is the true emotions of Mary, the sister during her visit to Elizabeth ? Where is the true emotions of Mary, the high mother during her pregnancy and labour ? Where is the true emotions of mary, the mother of god during the birth of her son ? It's not melancholy and tears at all the time. It's not submission and surrender. It's not just agony alone, but, Mary lived in and with agony and joy, courage and determination.
It's agonising to the see the agony and tearful eyes of Mary in the iconography though tears cleanse our hearts ! The iconography merely silenced the emotions of Mary while the scriptures celebrated her voice. Alas! What Else the beautiful mary hanging on the walls of our home conveys !?
