Iesvs  Nazarenvs  Rex  Ivdaeorvium - The translation of the four letters I.N.R.I. has always fascinated me relative to its meaning,” Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews”.  The vision that these letters and words evoke is one of suffering and solemnity. The medium I selected  to express my vision is a woodcut because it allows for carving out of wood the letters and the image of the suffering Jesus and printing multiple copies.  It also provided me with an opportunity to translate what these letters visually translate into for the artist.   The letters I.N.R.I. are prominently placed in the lower left hand side rather than the traditional position over Jesus’ head.  The facial features of Jesus with closed eyes are to indicate suffering with the dominant crown of thorns. A woodcut carving and printing is a slow methodical process because the images slowly emerge and the work is not fully realized until the final printing.  I introduced red ink to indicate the, “The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed thee.”  The red is placed along the left and right side of Jesus perpendicular to the crosses and on the letters I.N.R.I. to indicate His blood sacrifice.

Community: St. Paul’s Church, Concord New Hampshire
Email: roger.beattie@unh.edu