How Far We've Come - From The Virgin Mary to Angelina Jolie

"Blessed Art Thou" by Kate Kretz

I actually found this painting thru Father Joe's blog, and it is definitely worth a re-post, along with the painter's explanation:

This painting addresses the celebrity worship cycle. The title, “Blessed Art
Thou”, is taken from a line in the Catholic prayer “Hail Mary”: “…blessed art
thou among women”. Our culture is deifying celebrities, but in the bible, it is
the meek who are blessed, so the title presents a question for the viewer to
ponder.I chose a setting where the cycle begins: psychologically oppressive
environments like this one are one of the feeding sources for the consumer,
hungry for “information” about the celebrity's private life. I am interested in
the psychological ramifications of celebrity worship, particularly as they
relate to class.Angelina Jolie was chosen as the subject because of her
unavoidable presence in the media, the world-wide anticipation of her child, her
"unattainable" beauty and the good that she is doing in the world through her
example, which adds another layer to the already complicated questions
surrounding her status.The "Virgin" and Zahara figures are loosely based on a Van Dyck Virgin painting, and the Maddox figure's pose is borrowed from a Raphael
painting.

Taken from the blog of Kate Kretz.

I find this painting very thought provoking. Many of those who commented pointed their fingers at the painter, but I think if we stop and give it the thought she is asking us to, we will learn about ourselves.

I'd like to hear what you think about this painting. Let me know!