Christus in Emmaüs 1455 - 1503

Israhel van Meckenem created this engraving of "Christus in Emmaüs," or Christ at Emmaus in the late fifteenth century. It captures the biblical scene where the resurrected Christ reveals himself to two disciples during a meal. Van Meckenem's print exists within a society deeply shaped by religious belief. The image invites viewers to engage with the divine on an intimate, human scale. The setting is a domestic interior, which makes the scene feel relatable. Yet, it's also charged with symbolic meaning: food and communal dining become metaphors for spiritual nourishment and fellowship. Interestingly, the androgynous figure presenting food has prompted art historians to question the rigid gender norms of the time. Do they reinforce or subvert conventional representations? By examining this artwork, we might consider the complex interplay between faith, identity, and representation during the medieval period.