The Empty Tomb 1889

"The Empty Tomb" by Mikhail Nesterov (1889) depicts a scene from the Christian Bible, specifically the moment when Mary Magdalene discovers the empty tomb of Jesus Christ. The painting captures the dramatic moment, with a radiant, ethereal angel seated atop the tomb, radiating light into the night sky. The two figures in the distance, likely Mary Magdalene and another woman, appear awestruck, witnessing the divine presence and the miracle of the resurrection. Nesterov's painting, a quintessential example of the Russian Peredvizhniki movement, emphasizes spirituality and evokes a sense of awe and wonder through the use of light and color.