The Three Women at the Tomb [recto] c. 1600

This artwork is an anonymous piece depicting “The Three Women at the Tomb,” using pen and black ink, with white gouache highlights, over black preparation on paper. The image portrays a biblical scene through a lens of faith and gender. The three women, often identified as Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, are central figures who discover the empty tomb of Jesus. Their presence underscores the vital role of women in early Christian narratives, challenging the patriarchal norms of the time. The artist uses the visual weight of the women’s figures, their robes, and their reactions, to emphasize how they become witnesses and messengers of the resurrection, thus empowered in a pivotal moment. The black ink and white gouache add a dramatic intensity, heightening the emotional impact of the scene. The expressions on the faces of the women evoke feelings of wonder, confusion, and perhaps a hint of the empowerment that comes with bearing witness to the extraordinary.