Christus verschijnt aan Maria Magdalena 1797

Editor: So, this is Reinier Vinkeles’ “Christus verschijnt aan Maria Magdalena” from 1797, at the Rijksmuseum. It looks like it’s rendered with pencil. The first thing that struck me is its delicate, almost tentative quality. What can you tell me about this work? Curator: The delicacy you perceive speaks volumes. Consider the enduring power of the biblical scene: Mary Magdalene encountering the resurrected Christ. Notice how Vinkeles uses the established visual vocabulary of this scene – Mary’s kneeling posture, Christ’s gentle gesture. Editor: Yes, the body language is really powerful! Curator: Absolutely. And think about how that posture has resonated across centuries of art, symbolizing humility and recognition. What does it mean to depict the divine through such conventional imagery? Is it limiting or does it amplify the emotion? Editor: I guess it does both. On the one hand, everyone already knows what that posture means so it instantly conveys humility. But on the other hand, that's been done before. What’s original about this one? Curator: Consider how Vinkeles uses the artistic styles that are part of his contemporary artistic visual language to tell the same enduring story of cultural memory. Look at the specific lines, and the etching style, do they evoke a certain time period? Editor: Definitely. So, by depicting such a traditional image with the style of his own time, Vinkeles makes it culturally relevant. It's pretty smart! Curator: Precisely. He ensures its continuing emotional and cultural weight. It makes us reconsider these images.