Explore the Description of this artwork, Man of Sorrows (Geertgen tot Sint Jans).
Christ stands in his tomb, a stone sarcophagus. His entire body is lacerated and deformed by wounds sustained during his flogging. Yet he not clearly dead, as in earlier depictions. His eyes stare directly at the viewer, a device identified by the art historian Erwin Panofsky as referring to the biblical text "Behold what I have suffered for you; what have you suffered for me". The gesture was earlier identified by art historian Alois Riegl as evoking an "external unity" where Christ's gaze becomes one with the viewer's world. Art historian Wouter Slob writes that Christ's expression "confronts the contemporary viewer with the consequences of His sinning; the blood, splashing from the panel, flows because of his guilt." 
Despite Christ's apparent agony, his animated, half-standing, half-kneeling pose in his sarcophagus seems to reference his Resurrection. He may be equally descending into or our the tomb.To his left, Mary Magdalene kneels in prayer. Her arms rest on the sarcophagus, her eyes are downcast, her plaintive expression is a study of grief. At the foot of the cross, Jesus' mother, Mary, laments with arms folded, as large drops of tears pour down her face. She is supported by John the Evangelist with only his head and hands visible, wiping his tears with the back of his hand. Angels dressed in white robes, their eyes swollen with tears, carry the remaining Arma Christi, including the lance, Holy Sponge and the three nails from the cross.
Mary Magdalene Magdalene Erwin Panofsky Holy Sponge Alois Riegl sarcophagus John the Evangelist flogging Resurrection wound lance Arma Christi left three nails from the cross mother, Mary