Noli Me Tangere 

Editor: Here we have Giuseppe Maria Crespi’s “Noli Me Tangere,” rendered in oil paint. I’m immediately struck by the figures emerging from this darkly lit backdrop and the dramatic gestures of the subjects. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Well, the title itself, "Noli Me Tangere," Latin for "Do not touch me," holds significant weight. The moment depicted is, of course, Christ's post-resurrection encounter with Mary Magdalene. Note Christ's raised hand, seemingly preventing Mary from touching him. The imagery here is rich. What do you make of it? Editor: I suppose it suggests untouchability, purity, or a transition from earthly to divine. Why does Crespi emphasize this moment so dramatically? Curator: Precisely! Mary Magdalene is often depicted as the first witness to the resurrected Christ, a figure of immense spiritual importance. The drama, use of tenebrism, the light and dark – heightens the emotional impact and underscores the mystical nature of the event. The abandoned burial jar at Mary’s feet tells of the narrative as much as she does. Can you feel it? Editor: Now I see that too – the darkness emphasizes that these figures stand for all of humanity in one key and defining historical scene. What did the symbols in this painting communicate to the original audience, relative to now? Curator: In Crespi's time, such depictions were powerful affirmations of faith. Today, it's less about dogma and more about contemplating human experience. That desire for connection, that boundary of the divine - those are very present in today's considerations about the figure of Christ in secular contexts. Editor: That’s fascinating; I hadn't thought about the continuous through-line in this artwork’s appeal across historical audiences and its appeal today. Thanks for showing me how images accumulate psychological and cultural power over time.