THOMASThe history of Thomas is a parable about the ability to believe – or not. When just a few days after his death Jesus reappeared miraculously alive in front of his pupils, only Thomas, who was told about it afterwards because he was not present when this reappearance occurred, did not believe the reports of what had happened. He was absolutely right, because only a few days before he had seen his master being cruelly crucified and killed on mount Golgotha – and subsequently buried in a sealed grave. Nonetheless, he made sure to be there the second time when Jesus showed himself again to his followers. But even then Thomas persisted in doubting what he and all the others were seeing so clearly in front of their eyes. Although probably all the others present at the time were thinking exactly the same, Thomas was the only one brave enough to express his understandable doubts. So he said that he would only accept what he saw if he could lay his hand on the post mortem lance wound of his master. Without hesitation Jesus took the hand of Thomas and put his finger even inside of the wound, saying that those who would believe without seeing were the ones who would be blessed. In addition to its biblical source, the subject of this painting is just as much about the nature of art, which also extends beyond so many forms of pragmatic reasoning– and just as much subject to what is visible, and either believing it – or not.

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