Christus verschijnt aan Maria Magdalena (Noli me tangere) 1602

Jacob Matham created this engraving, titled ‘Christ Appears to Mary Magdalene,’ around the turn of the 17th century, a period of intense religious and social change. Matham captures the moment when the resurrected Christ appears to Mary Magdalene. Mary's traditional portrayal as a repentant sinner adds layers of complexity to her encounter with Jesus. The scene unfolds with Christ, depicted as a gardener, forbidding Mary from touching him, hence the Latin title ‘Noli me tangere,’ or ‘Do not touch me.’ Consider the power dynamics at play: a woman, a former ‘sinner,’ is the first to witness the risen Christ. This challenges the patriarchal norms of the time, offering a subversive narrative about who is deemed worthy of divine revelation. Mary’s emotional journey – from grief to recognition to acceptance – invites us to reflect on our own encounters with the unexpected and the transformative. Matham's engraving serves as a lens through which to examine societal expectations, spiritual longing, and the radical potential of marginalized voices.