The Serpent Beneath His Feet

Description

The Serpent Beneath His Feet
La serpiente bajo sus pies
Artist: ArNoUx
Style: German Expressionist Figurative
Medium: Acrylic and mixed media on canvas
Dimensions: 10 × 8 in.
Year: 2026
Curatorial Statement
The Serpent Beneath His Feet presents an angel whose quiet, vulnerable expression contrasts with the spiritual victory inscribed upon his body. Around his neck rests the form of a serpent. Although it appears to retain movement, it is no longer alive: it has been defeated.
The serpent symbolizes sin, temptation, fear, and every destructive force that humanity can place beneath its feet through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Its position around the angel’s neck suggests that the struggle has been carried intimately, close to the breath and the voice. Yet the serpent no longer possesses power. What once threatened life has become evidence of deliverance.
A dark cross appears below the neck, anchoring the composition and revealing the source of this victory. Christ’s death and resurrection transform the serpent from an active threat into a conquered presence. The angel does not celebrate triumph with grandeur; instead, his solemn gaze communicates the emotional weight of surviving a spiritual battle.
The halo surrounding his head identifies the figure as an angelic being, while the muted grays, dusty pinks, rough brushwork, and intentionally distorted anatomy place the work within a German Expressionist language. The uneven surface and exposed gestures preserve a sense of fragility, anguish, and inner revelation.
The serpent appears alive, but it is dead. This visual ambiguity is essential to the work: defeated forces may still retain their frightening appearance, even after losing their authority. The painting ultimately affirms that, through Christ, what once oppressed humanity can be overcome and placed beneath its feet.
Biblical Reference
“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.”
Romans 16:20