Christus geneest een melaatse 1696 - 1727

Matthijs Pool created this drawing, ‘Christ Healing a Leper’, using pen in the late 17th to early 18th century. The dominant image is the act of healing, where Christ’s touch is central. In Christian iconography, this touch is more than physical; it's a conduit of divine grace and restoration. Consider how this motif of healing appears across cultures. Think of the laying on of hands in ancient Egyptian reliefs, where pharaohs transmit life force, or the healing rituals in Greek temples of Asclepius. The gesture itself—the hand extended, the laying on—resonates with a deep human desire for wholeness and well-being. In Pool's rendering, this gesture is imbued with Christian theology. It speaks not only to physical cure but spiritual redemption. The kneeling leper embodies humility and supplication, his pose a mirror of mankind’s reliance on a higher power. It is this collective yearning, deeply embedded in our subconscious, that Pool masterfully evokes, engaging us on a level far beyond the visual. The act of touch, in this context, transcends its immediate purpose, becoming a timeless symbol of hope, faith, and the potential for renewal.