Mary Magdalene n.d.

This pen and brown ink drawing of Mary Magdalene was created by Bartolomeo Biscaino, an artist who lived a short life in 17th century Genoa, Italy. Biscaino imagines the biblical figure as a beautiful, young, and sorrowful woman. We see her in the traditional pose of repentance, with her eyes cast downwards in anguish and a skull at her side, symbolizing mortality. Yet, Biscaino's representation complicates the traditional narrative of the penitent Magdalene. During the Counter-Reformation, the Catholic Church often used her image to promote ideals of female repentance and sexual morality. In contrast, here Mary Magdalene is sensual and present. Her half-naked body and the loose flowing hair adds a layer of complexity to her character as a reformed sinner. As you gaze at this drawing, consider how Biscaino navigates the conventional image of Mary Magdalene, intertwining the themes of penitence, sensuality, and feminine identity.