Vrouw, vermoedelijk Maria Magdalena, omhelst de voeten van het dode lichaam van Christus before 1899

Léon Bovier created this print, depicting a woman, presumably Mary Magdalene, embracing the feet of the dead Christ. Produced in France, a predominantly Catholic country, the image builds on established traditions of religious art. The composition is charged with religious symbolism. Mary Magdalene was, according to the Gospels, a key witness to the crucifixion of Christ. From a cultural standpoint, this small print from the late 19th century participates in a long history of devotional images of the Passion. The image could be seen as reinforcing the church's social power. Yet it also allows for the intensely personal experience of faith. Understanding this print requires that we analyze the traditions of Christian iconography. We can explore Bovier’s relationship to the artistic institutions of his time, using gallery records, exhibition reviews, and other documentary sources. In this way, we can begin to appreciate how visual culture mediates our encounters with the divine.