This painting, titled, "Dream," is one of Polenov's Life of Christ Cycle created between 1884-1909. Vasily was fascinated with Jesus, but wanted us to encounter him as a real person of history. "I love the Gospel tales beyond words," he wrote. And so, we see Jesus simply sitting on the rock high above Lake Gennesaret. He is not preaching; not performing any miracle — just sitting.
Looking off into the distance, notice that Jesus has his chin in his hand, the way any of us might when we are in some deep thought. Jesus wears no halo. There is nothing golden about him. Polenov's use of this atmospheric, clear-color brightness is new, but the light in which Jesus sits is from the sun, not from himself. We all sit in God's light.
Jesus' clothing is simple; he carries a stick in his right hand. Perhaps the stick serves as a staff, as a shepherd would carry. Or it might indicate Jesus was a traveler and here has found a place to rest. We remember that Vasily had made two trips to Palestine, Syria and Egypt where he experienced and learned to depict the light that is proper to that part of the world. This was Polenov's goal as an artist — to depict Jesus as he was and where he was. There is nothing Russian or European about this painting.
Grass is growing by Jesus in the thin soil that's collected in the depressions and crevices of the rock. We might think of Jesus' parable about the seed planted on rocky ground — the hard-as-rock soul where the Word of God might achieve only a shallow and temporary growth. Matthew 13:1-23.
The rocks are enormous here. The Rule St. Benedict, composed for young monks, instructs them, "Dash your thoughts against Christ the Rock." There is a thistle plant with a long reach growing out of the rock. The thistle is symbolic of suffering.
The valley which descends to the sea is deep and vast, as are the rocks on the other shore, the hills beyond, and the enormous sky. Wide and deep — like the divine heart.
Vasily Polenov shows us Jesus, lost in thought. But the title of the painting, Dream, suggests his thoughts are lovely, positive and good. "What's on your mind?" we might ask someone. We've all sat like this at one time or another, "miles away" — working out a plan, remembering some delight, turning over our concerns or blessings.
