Mary Magdalen repentant in the wilderness 1566

Cornelis Cort’s engraving presents Mary Magdalen in a moment of repentance, a popular subject during the Counter-Reformation. Here, Mary Magdalen is removed from society and placed in the wilderness. The skull and open book are standard symbols of repentance, but it is Magdalen's exposed body that draws the eye. Her story, often depicted by male artists, walks a tightrope between the erotic and the spiritual. The question arises: is this image truly about repentance, or is it an excuse to display the female body? Magdalen’s upward gaze suggests a plea for forgiveness, yet the sensuality of the image complicates any easy reading of piety. Cort’s image invites us to reflect on how women’s bodies have historically been placed at the center of complex narratives about sin, redemption, and societal expectations.