Do not touch me 1512

Titian's "Noli me tangere" or "Do not touch me" as it translates, was painted with oil on canvas in the 16th century. Oil paint is interesting in that it allowed Titian to build up layers of glazes in his art. Note the way that light reflects on the face of Mary Magdelene, how her skin is luminous thanks to the multiple layers of paint, and how the weight of the paint gives an extra dimension to her human form. Oil paint gave artists the chance to capture reality in new ways. Look closely and you'll notice Titian has depicted a farming tool that is not particularly relevant to the biblical narrative. The farming tool reminds us of the social and economic realities in which the artwork was made. Titian’s painting engages with the world around him, and the modes of production in his time. It suggests an interplay between the divine and the everyday life of labor.