De apostelen om het lege graf van Maria 1528 - 1539

Here is the study, “The Apostles around the Empty Grave of Mary” by Pordenone, made with pen and brush in brown and gray. The composition pulls us into a maelstrom of grief and wonder. Notice the grid of squares, seemingly arbitrarily drawn across the image, which paradoxically acts as a structuring, ordering device. It invites us to consider how these disparate figures relate to one another. The figures, rendered in strokes of brown and gray wash, are caught in moments of intense emotional response. Pordenone masterfully orchestrates a symphony of gestures and expressions. Limbs are flung outwards, faces are upturned in disbelief. We can interpret the emotional chaos that destabilizes the assumed certainty of religious narrative through the interplay of formal elements. The figures, with their dynamic poses, suggest a deeper questioning of faith, and the act of witnessing a miracle. The drawing destabilizes the singular interpretation of religious events, opening up a space for personal and collective questioning.