In composing this painting, I had a picture in my mind of bright morning light illuminating the Savior’s body as He reveals His identity to Mary. I wanted to symbolize the beautiful and tender moment where, as the light is dawning upon Him, it dawns upon Mary Magdalene that it is not the gardener she is talking to, but her Master and Savior. The lilies symbolize that there has been death, but their springtime feeling also represents hope and new life. In large reproductions of this painting, you can see a tear on Mary’s face: tears of sadness that at once turn to tears of joy.
~Simon Dewey