Mary Magdalen washing Christ's feet, in the House of the Pharisee (Christ by Simon) 1546 - 1549

Maarten van Heemskerck created this print, *Mary Magdalen washing Christ's feet, in the House of the Pharisee*, capturing a scene rife with social tension. Made in the 16th century, a period marked by rigid social hierarchies, Heemskerck's print throws into sharp relief the complexities of gender, class, and religious identity. The central scene depicts Mary Magdalen, a figure often associated with repentance, in a moment of humble devotion, washing the feet of Christ. This act defies the conventions of the time, where women, particularly those of lower social standing, were expected to maintain a position of subservience. Consider how the artist uses the domestic space as a stage for a profound exchange of power and vulnerability. The act of washing feet, traditionally a task for servants, is here performed by a woman of questionable reputation upon a revered religious figure. Heemskerck invites us to reflect on how personal acts of piety and contrition challenge the rigid structures of the time.