Spanish right-wing politicians are up in arms over an artwork portraying Jesus that they claim is “sexualized” and “camp.”

The controversial image, created by artist Salustiano García, features a semi-naked Christ following his resurrection and was intended to promote Easter week in Seville, his hometown.

García firmly maintains that those interpreting his painting in a certain way “must be mad.” However, this hasn’t prevented ultra-conservatives in the country from expressing their discontent over what they perceive as an overly sensual representation of Jesus.

Javier Navarro, the president of the local branch of the right-wing party Vox, expressed his disapproval, stating that the depiction was “seeking provocation.” He argued that the artwork does not contribute to the goal of “encouraging the devout participation of the faithful” during Holy Week, in a post on social media.

The Instituto de Política Social (IPSE) took an even harsher stance in their own social media post, labelling the poster a “true aberration.” They described the portrayed Christ as “sexualized and effeminate,” emphasising that it completely distorts the true meaning of #SemanaSanta (Holy Week).

Seville is renowned for hosting one of Spain’s most significant Holy Week celebrations, featuring lifelike wooden sculptures known as “pasos” paraded through the streets. Adding an intriguing twist to the controversy, García revealed that the face in his artwork is based on his 27-year-old son, Horacio. He clarified that his intention was to create “a kind work that does not want to be revolutionary.”

The artist also pointed out that even with minimal artistic knowledge, most people have visited churches and museums where similar depictions exist in works of art spanning many centuries.

To emphasise his point, García mentioned the sculpture of the Risen Christ created by El Greco in the 1590s, which portrays Jesus completely naked, without even a loin cloth. He questioned why, in the 21st century, there would be objections to an artwork like his, featuring a Christ with a bare torso.

Among the defenders of the artwork was Juan Espadas, the leader of Spain’s ruling Socialist party in the southern Andalusia region, where Seville is situated. He decried the “expressions of homophobia and hatred” that emerged following the unveiling of the painting. Espadas argued that the artwork represents both “tradition and modernity” in a manner that parallels the region as a whole.

Encouraging a more contemplative perspective, Archbishop of Seville José Ángel Saiz Meneses suggested that people should try to “fix our gaze, with special intensity,” on Christ amid the controversy. It’s safe to say that for some, this task might be more challenging than usual.