Christus en de Samaritaanse vrouw 1828

Hans Otto Hermann created this print of "Christus en de Samaritaanse vrouw," depicting a biblical encounter that challenges social norms. The story comes from the Gospel of John: Jesus, a Jew, asks a Samaritan woman for water. This was scandalous because of the historical animosity between Jews and Samaritans, and because men typically did not engage with women in public in this way. Here, Hermann captures a moment fraught with the potential for conflict but also rich with the possibility of connection. The woman's averted gaze might suggest a mixture of surprise and trepidation, while Christ's gesture appears gentle and inviting. This image subtly reframes the woman. Instead of simply the woman from Samaria, her personhood is the key point of the interaction; he sees her humanity beyond societal divisions, which is the radical and emotional core of the narrative. This print prompts us to consider how we perpetuate divisions and how we might, instead, offer a cup of water.