Christus verschijnt aan Tomas 1885

This etching by Carl Bloch depicts the moment Christ appears to Thomas. A halo illuminates Christ, a visual symbol of divinity since antiquity. Consider the gesture of Thomas touching Christ's wounds. This act of physical contact echoes ancient rituals of verification, a desire to make the unseen, seen, to quell doubt. The motif of touch appears in varied forms—from medieval reliquaries inviting contact with sacred remains to modern-day forensic science. This primal urge to verify through touch speaks to our collective memory, reflecting a deep-seated need to bridge the gap between belief and empirical proof. The psychological weight of this scene, a powerful force engaging viewers, lies in the tension between faith and doubt. Bloch captures a moment of profound emotional and spiritual conflict, one that resonates across time. In its cyclical progression, this symbol has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings in different historical contexts.