St. Mary Magdalene at the Foot of the Cross 1593

Jan Muller created "St. Mary Magdalene at the Foot of the Cross," a work currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, employing an engraving technique on a sheet. The composition evokes a powerful emotional response through its stark contrast of light and shadow. The formal structure is immediately striking: the elongated body of Christ on the cross dominates the upper portion, its verticality mirrored by the cross itself, creating a sense of looming presence. Below, Mary Magdalene is positioned, her form curved in grief, acting as a counterpoint to the rigid lines above. Muller uses a semiotic system of signs to convey the underlying narrative. The cross, the primary signifier, immediately denotes sacrifice and redemption, while Mary Magdalene’s posture signifies mourning and repentance. The use of engraving allows for an extraordinary level of detail. This print is a complex interplay of religious symbolism and humanist emotion. The cultural codes embedded within the artwork invite ongoing interpretation.