About Sadao Watanabe
Sadao Watanabe (1913-1996) came from a working-class Tokyo family and lost his father at age 10. In spite of childhood hardships, he found hope in Christ and solace in art. When Sadao dropped out of school, a woman who lived in his neighborhood was concerned about him. She invited him to join her at church. His initial reaction was not positive. He was overwhelmed by the foreignness of the Christian faith. While Sadao’s father was a baptized Christian, Sadao had no memory of his father ever attending church. However, as he continued to visit, he slowly began Bible instruction from the pastors, and his mother eventually began attending as well. Sadao was baptized on September 7, 1930, at age 17. His mother was baptized on Christmas Day of that same year.
In 1943, Sadao married Harue Yoshimizu. The couple had three children. Harue, who came from a family of paper makers, was a devoted wife and mother, and she joined her husband in both his Christian faith and his artwork. She was his studio assistant, mixing paints and resistance paste. She painted in some of the background colors herself. The Watanabes were never wealthy, but they lived both frugally and generously, motivated by their love for Christ and their neighbor.
After becoming a Christian, Sadao was struck by the absence of Japanese Christian art. The books lining the Christian bookstores of Tokyo were full of foreign, Western artwork, making the whole religion seem like an exported product of Europe rather than a universal message of salvation for the world. Sadao set off to create a truly Japanese expression of the Gospel in art. Before sketching a single line for his prints, he would prayerfully read and re-read the passage of Scripture he sought to portray. As a result, his works are often highly accurate, embellishing with Japanese cultural elements only in the silences found in the original text.
The mingei folk art movement of Japan is often considered a parallel to the arts and crafts movement in the United Kingdom and United States. Mingei attempted to resurrect older methods of creating artwork that were common within the home before the advent of industrialization. Watanabe’s works are displayed in the Vatican Museum, the White House, and in several universities and seminaries. However, Watanabe had always wanted his artwork to be hung in common spaces and enjoyed by common people. His desire, above all else, was to share the message of the Christian Gospel.
(Information from a Concordia Seminary, St. Louis exhibit called “A Kimono-Wrapped Gospel”)
Artwork
Please visit our multi-purpose room to enjoy our collection of artwork by Sadao Watanabe!
All Paintings were Donated by Gayle Rasmussen
Nativity, 1982
Donated in 2016
Here is a portrayal of the birth of our Savior. Joseph reaches in awe and wonder toward the baby Jesus. Mary, her expression solemn and tender, cradles the newborn in her arms. The two Biblical accounts of our Lord’s nativity are found in Matthew 2:18-25 and Luke 2:1-20. Jesus came to be our Emmanuel, “God with us.”
The Good Shepherd, 1968
Donated in 2016
This painting depicts Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Previous shepherds of Israel failed to care for God’s people. They didn’t protect them from the wolves who seek to destroy lives of faith. They were more concerned about their own well-being than others. Therefore, God sent His Son Jesus who is the Good Shepherd. Jesus says in John 10:14-15- “I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.”
Christ Washing the Feet of Saint Peter, 1988
Donated in 2016
On the night in which Jesus was betrayed, He instituted the Lord’s Supper for His followers to eat and drink for the forgiveness of their sins. That evening He also left an example of humility for His followers by washing their feet. In this painting we see Jesus washing the feet of Peter. At first, Peter did not understand why his Lord would lower Himself to do the work of a servant. In John 13:1-20 we see how Jesus calls us to love our neighbors.
Last Supper, 1973
Donated in 2016
In this painting we see Jesus celebrating the Last Supper with His disciples. The disciples gather closely around an oval table. The head of one of the disciples leans forward solemnly toward the Savior. This is most certainly John, the beloved disciple (John 13:23). The appearance of fish on the table may be a Japanese embellishment or it may be an allusion to the feeding of the five thousand where Jesus multiplied the loaves and fish.
Christ Carrying the Cross, 1968
Donated in 2016
This is a portrayal of Christ carrying His cross to the place where He would suffer and die for sinners. This is one of the most moving scenes in the Passion of our Lord. At the cross Jesus made full atonement for our sins. This image also reminds us of Jesus’ words in Matthew 16:24-25: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
Jesus and the Children, 1981
Donated in Honor of Doug and Aimee Egesdal, 2022
This is a lovely painting of Christ among small girls and boys, who gather about Him confidently, holding His hands. They appear to look at Him with surprise, awe and interest. In Mark 10:14-15, Jesus says, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” Jesus then took the children up in His arms and blessed them, laying His hands on them.
The Risen Christ on the Mountain, 1981
Donated in Memory of Gaylord and Helen Rasmussen, 2022
This painting portrays one of Jesus’ resurrection appearances to His eleven disciples. Matthew 28:16-20 says, “Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus has directed them. And when they saw Him they worshiped Him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the ends of the earth.” You will notice in the picture that the eleven disciples have various expressions on their faces. “They worshiped him,” Matthew writes, “but some doubted.” As Jesus teaches them, rays of grace and inspiration emanate toward His disciples, both toward their figures and their feet. The Great Commission now begins. This beautiful piece reminds us that Jesus loves all people around the world. He still gives us the task of connecting our friends and neighbors to Him. Jesus takes away our sins, gives us eternal life, and promises that He will always be with us, even to the ends of the earth. Let us not doubt these truths, but firmly believe them. The Lord is risen! Alleluia!
A Paralyzed Man is Healed, 1971
Donated in Honor of Norma Hohensee, Kay Hartwig, and Jo Lynn Pawloski, 2022
This is a painting of a man carrying his mat. He was once paralyzed but his friends brought him to Jesus to be healed. The narrative is found in Luke 5:17-26. Even more amazing than his physical healing was his spiritual healing. When he was a lowered down from the roof of a house, Jesus said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” The scribes and Pharisees accused Jesus of blasphemy because only God can forgive sins. Jesus then proved His divinity with His amazing miracle. The man picked up his bed and went home glorifying God.
The Doubting Thomas, 1971
Donated in Honor of Pastor Bob and Elaine Bartel, 2023
This painting portrays the risen Christ appearing to Thomas the disciple. In John’s Gospel, we are told that Thomas refused to believe the resurrected Jesus had appeared to the ten other disciples until he could see and feel Jesus’ crucifixion wounds. When Thomas saw his Lord’s wounds, he cried out in faith, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). This painting is dedicated to Pastor Bob and Elaine Bartel who spent nearly ten years in Botswana, South Africa, where another depiction of Thomas was hung at their mission.
The Deposition, 1967
Donated in Honor of Pastor Pete and Bethany Hoft, 2024
This painting shows the broken body of Jesus being lowered from the cross into His mother’s arms. Mary looks up in sorrow. The enlarged dimension of Christ’s head emphasizes the weight of His body. Other disciples look on in sorrow as well. These figures may be Joseph of Arimathea, John the apostle, and the women. It’s a somber image of our Lord’s death. However, if you look closely at the cross, you’ll notice bulging plant-like fruits, some of which bring forth new leaves. This signifies that Jesus’ death gives hope to the world. Jesus says in John 12:23-24, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” From Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, we receive forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.