The Woman of Samaria Possibly 1819

"The Woman of Samaria" is an etching by Joseph Mallord William Turner, a British artist active during a time of significant social and political change. Turner turns to the New Testament, depicting a scene where Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at Jacob's Well. It’s a story about gender and religious boundaries being crossed. Jewish men, at this time, typically wouldn't engage with women in public, particularly not Samaritan women, who were seen as belonging to a heretical sect. Turner seems to be interested in this intersection, by placing the scene within a classically-rendered landscape. We can almost hear the quiet hum of daily life punctuated by their dialogue. There's a quiet dignity in Turner's depiction that invites us to contemplate the complexities of identity, belief, and encounter. It serves as a reminder of the transformative potential found in unexpected conversations.