Berglandschap met Christus die de bloedvloeiende vrouw geneest Possibly 1585 - 1702

Jan van Londerseel etched this landscape showing Christ healing the bleeding woman. The story itself, drawn from the Gospels, speaks of faith and healing power. But consider the significance of gesture here: the woman reaches out, a motif echoing through centuries. Think back to classical antiquity, to images of supplication where figures touch sacred objects seeking divine intervention. Consider how this gesture re-emerges in medieval reliquaries, where the faithful touch the remains of saints. In Londerseel's image, the woman's act transcends the immediate narrative. It becomes a powerful symbol of hope and desperation. The act of touching as a conduit for healing taps into our collective memory, engaging viewers on a visceral level. The emotional weight carried in this single act has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings throughout history.