Christus verschijnt aan Maria Magdalena 1510 - 1560

Curator: This print, created sometime between 1510 and 1560 by an artist known only as Monogrammist S, depicts “Christus verschijnt aan Maria Magdalena” - Christ appearing to Mary Magdalene. It’s an engraving, showcasing the Northern Renaissance style. Editor: It feels incredibly intimate, doesn't it? Even in this small circular format, the intensity of the encounter is palpable. The detail is astonishing, given its size and the medium used. The lines almost vibrate with emotion. Curator: Absolutely. Consider the historical context: printmaking at this time democratized images and biblical narratives. The image’s symbolism, though subtle, would have been very clear to the audience. Mary Magdalene, a repentant woman and witness to Christ's resurrection, challenges expectations of both female discipleship and power within the religious and social hierarchies. Editor: And Christ's gesture - is He preventing her touch? Is this image challenging ideas around physicality and the divine, the limits imposed on women in approaching holiness? The artist has captured her plea, while keeping Him somewhat aloof. Curator: Precisely. The iconography speaks to power dynamics that reverberate even today, inviting consideration of gender, religion and agency. Editor: The rendering of the background too! It's stylized yet incredibly evocative; buildings give a clear view of where we are. Is that a representation of the New Jerusalem perhaps? A symbolic visual marker? Curator: Indeed. And consider the role of the viewer— invited to be a voyeur of this profoundly spiritual moment. Early prints served this intimate devotion well within both public and private spaces. Editor: I'm struck by the contemporary relevance, how even five centuries later it encourages reflections on the representation of spirituality, and female authority in patriarchal religious institutions. Curator: A fascinating microcosm of artistic and socio-cultural values expressed on such a small scale. It remains powerfully suggestive today. Editor: Yes, a piece which offers a real glimpse into its cultural milieu. Thanks to this engraving, narratives can travel much further.