Do Not Touch Me
1920
Maurice Denis transforms the biblical encounter between the resurrected Jesus and Mary Magdalene into a pastel dreamscape. Notice the whimsical purple tree trunks and the flat, decorative style—this is classic Symbolism, where emotion and color matter more than realistic depth. The title 'Noli me tangere' (Latin for 'Touch me not') captures the precise moment Jesus gently rebuffs Mary's reach, telling her he hasn't yet ascended. As a founder of the Les Nabis group, Denis famously argued that a picture is essentially a flat surface covered with colors, and this serene semi-circular panel proves his point perfectly.
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