Which race is Jesus?

In some styles Jesus is depicted as a man from the time and culture of the painter simply because that is relatable. In medieval times especially people didn't depict people form different times or places differently then they would current events and things they knew ( There are depictions of Charlemagne fighting Turks where they didn't even draw different armor for the Turks, let alone skin color, so it just looks like he is fighting his own army with slightly greener armor ). That has remained a common style in Christian art.

In the renaissance artist like Leonardo Da-Vinci and Michelangelo created what is now considered the common depiction of Jesus based on what people looked like at the time mathematical principles and techniques and elements copied from the sculptures of classic romans.

That doesn't mean they thought Jesus was a white roman, they needed a figure that was easily recognizable as Jesus., Just like the Greek gods and heroes though never seen had been depicted in standardized ways. Michelangelo's David is another example of that style. No one alive then had seen David but its made to represent him none the less. ecce homo

There are actually lots of depictions where Jesus has pretty dark skin in Europe, from time to time that was actually the standard.

If Jesus is really white Its often done deliberately as a way to freshen up the material in certain periods.

There are Dutch paintings depicting Nazareth as a typical Dutch village in winter in the seventeenth century. The painters knew people didn't look like that in the middle east and that they didn't skate on ice or wore clothes like that. But by putting the story in their setting it becomes more relatable to them. Its a updated adaptation, Like how Westside story can be seen as an adaptation of Romeo and Julia.

Around the same time ( a little later ) Rembrandt used middle eastern models and clothing as elements in his paintings but deliberately also used more modern things and European models that didn't match the period as well to make it more relatable.

See it more as you would a black actor playing Hamlet or Macbeth. It doesn't matter what color he is, as long as he acts well he is a Scottish or a Danish royal, Or placing Macbeth in the setting of a drug cartel ( You know what ? remember that major and his wife that had those students killed ? that would be the perfect setting for a adaptation. )

Like Theater religious art is not about the most accurate naturalistic depiction , its about the most effective. And white Jesus has proven to be a good actor so people who are used to the imagery tend to stick with it.

There is no fixed way to depict Jesus , the used depiction just depends on the culture. If a catholic priest goes to Namibia he wont be the least bit surprised if people there depict Jesus as black.

1. The Israelite tribe of Joseph was African: Joseph given 2 African wives by Pharaoh.

2. Joseph's remaining 11 brothers came to Africa bringing no females for their sons and grandsons to marry.

Consequently:

After over 200 years and 10 generations of intermarriage with African Nations, Jesus, an Israelite Jew, is African.

<<<Which race is Jesus? >>

Human, I suppose ?

<<Why do people always paint him white with long brown hair>>

Usually the hair is fair or red or something between fair and red. The face is whiteand he has or wear a red coat in pallium style.

These pictures are not "portrait from life" but they depict his kingship in heaven.

Jesus would look like a Bedouin today.

The churhces painted him white due to the whites who worshipped him, anyone can plainly tell that everyone living in a desert region,born and bread had color, he wasent black, or white, had to brown skin or good tan,

You right! Jesus could have been a black man with dread locks.

Human. We all are of the human race.

He probably wasn't white. He was an Israeli carpenter. He also probably looked more manly than modern paintings depict him.

I don't know. He had to be dark skinned and dark hair.