Saint Mary Magdalene in Penitence 1590 - 1607

Editor: Here we have Giuseppe Scolari's "Saint Mary Magdalene in Penitence," created sometime between 1590 and 1607. It's an etching, giving it this intricate, almost shadowy quality. I'm struck by the vulnerability conveyed, but also a strange stillness amidst what must have been quite a turmoil. What do you make of the depiction and the socio-political forces at play here? Curator: Indeed, it’s fascinating to consider. Scolari's image arrives during the Counter-Reformation. The Magdalene was being reshaped as a symbol of repentance, used to promote contrition within the populace. The somewhat eroticized portrayal, though ostensibly about religious awakening, highlights how female figures often became sites of struggle between religious doctrine and societal desires. The etching itself, as a print, enabled wider dissemination of such potent imagery. Editor: So the medium, etching, enabled wider circulation of religious messaging... but also potentially amplified conflicting views about female sexuality and penance. Curator: Precisely. Note, too, the theatrical setting – almost stage-like. Where would this kind of image most likely be viewed at this time? Editor: Perhaps in private collections as well as printed devotional images used in the public sphere? Curator: Exactly. Consider, too, the almost casual placement of the Magdalene's attributes, her alabaster jar overturned. This imagery challenges you. Is she genuinely repenting, or is there something else being displayed and exploited? Such tensions fuelled the Baroque. Editor: It's unsettling how this seemingly devout image can reveal those underlying currents of power and control. Curator: Art always exists within such negotiations. Editor: Food for thought. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Always ask "Who benefits from this image, and how?" That reveals much.