by Morgan Bell

Created on: January 18, 2009

Christina's World (1948) is a realist tempera painting by iconic American artist Andrew Wyeth. Andrew Wyeth (born 1917) was one of America's best-known and most popular visual artists from the mid-20th Century.

The painting depicts Christina Olson, who had an undiagnosed muscular deterioration (possibly polio) that paralyzed her lower body. Wyeth was standing inside the Olson house, looking out through a window at Christina crawling across a field, when he was inspired to create the painting. Although Christina is the inspiration and artistic subject of Wyeth's masterpiece, the primary model was actually Wyeth's wife Betsy. Betsy posed for the painting but Wyeth depicted the figure as he imagined Christina would have looked like in her youth. Christina Olson was middle-aged by the time Wyeth created his work.

The Olson family invited a young Andrew Wyeth to use one of the upstairs rooms as a part-time studio. Wyeth used his upstairs studio for 30 years, and featured the house in many paintings and lithographs. He captured stark interiors, and somber views from the 18th Century sea captain's house. The house, located in Cushing, Maine, still stands. Wyeth took artistic license in its depiction, separating the barn from the house and changing the lay of the land.

In Christina's World, Wyeth used muted colours to convey the serenity of being limited to a country setting. The light between the house and the barn is the brightest point of the painting and Christina directs her head upwards towards it. Christina appears mesmerised by her rural setting, a hint of breeze caressing her loose strands of hair as she gazes towards her home, completely captivated. The brightest part of the sky seems to beckon Christina like a heavenly white light.

A lone figure in vast farmlands, Christina is quite vulnerable to the rugged environment, but braves it anyway to enjoy the beauty of the scene and her freedom. The landscape is largely dry and barren but has a softness to it which is strangely inviting. An otherwise daunting scene radiates a sense of safety to the viewer. The inclusion of a "crippled" young girl transforms the setting to something accomodating and approachable.

Christina's World is about familiarity trumping fear. Wyeth has captured the feeling of home and the wonder of youth. The figure of Christina is physically limited but also in the enviable position of appreciating the things she does have.

Christina Olson died in 1969. She had lived in the house her entire life. Neighbors say she had no idea that her small world had become famous.

Christina's World is now displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Andrew Wyeth passed away 16 January, 2009, aged 91.

"In the portraits of that house, the windows are eyes or pieces of the soul, almost," Wyeth said. "To me, each window is a different part of Christina's life."

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