Christus in het huis van Marta en Maria 1683 - 1733

This etching, "Christus in het huis van Marta en Maria," was created by Bernard Picart in the early 18th century. Picart was a French engraver, whose work often reflected the social and religious contexts of his time. This image depicts a biblical scene where Jesus visits the home of two sisters, Martha and Mary. Martha is busy with domestic duties, while Mary sits and listens to Jesus. Traditionally, this story has been interpreted to emphasize the value of spiritual contemplation over worldly concerns. Yet we must remember the labor necessary to perform those worldly concerns and consider the division of labor along gendered lines. Here, Picart represents a moment fraught with the tensions of gendered expectations. How might we see Martha’s labor—the labor of care—as valuable and necessary to spiritual contemplation? How can one sister sit and listen while the other is busy at work? Picart’s etching invites us to reflect on the complex interplay between action, contemplation, and societal expectations.