Jesus Appearing to Mary Magdalen 1940

Esther Newport made this print of Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalen sometime in the 20th century, using a gorgeous limited palette of cream, yellow, blue and grey, within a graphic black line. The colors almost feel like they’ve been laid down as blocks, defining forms and spaces in a very direct way, which gives the whole image a feeling of being very grounded and immediate. Take a look at the way Newport renders Mary Magdalen, hunched over, her face buried in her hands. The artist uses such simple means to convey so much emotion. It’s like a study in how posture can tell a whole story. The curves of her body speak to grief and despair. Then, just to the left, notice the discarded jug and cloth, symbols of the earlier task of caring for Christ's body. They emphasize her devastation at finding the tomb empty. Newport's print reminds me a little of early woodcuts, but with a modern sensibility for flat shapes and emotional depth. The image lingers in the mind. It reminds us that sometimes the simplest forms can hold the most profound feelings.