Saint Mary Magdalene 1728 - 1731

This print portrays Saint Mary Magdalene, her gaze lifted towards the cross. Here we see the Magdalene not just as a repentant sinner, but as a symbol of profound spiritual transformation. Her story echoes through time, her iconography a tapestry woven with threads of sorrow, repentance, and redemption. The skull beneath her clasped hands is a stark memento mori, a reminder of life’s fleeting nature, a symbol found in ancient Roman art. It urges the viewer to reflect on the transience of earthly pleasures. You can see the appearance of skulls in many different contexts, from ancient Roman paintings to later vanitas paintings in the Dutch Golden Age. Observe the way her bare shoulders invite the gaze, the emotional and psychological depth of her sorrow made visible. The Magdalene’s pose is a recurring motif, a visual language passed down through history, evolving in meaning, yet always rooted in the primal emotions of grief and hope. It is a potent reminder of our own mortality and the promise of renewal.