De elevatie van de H. Maria Magdalena met vijf engelen 1488

Editor: Here we have a pen and ink drawing from 1488, "The elevation of St. Mary Magdalene with five angels," attributed to the Master of the Amsterdam Cabinet. The delicate line work gives it an ethereal, almost dreamlike quality. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: The elevation motif carries potent symbolic weight. Magdalene, often interpreted as a figure of repentance and divine love, ascends, drawn upwards by angelic figures. What do these upward-pulling figures suggest to you about medieval spiritual beliefs? Editor: Perhaps it's about redemption and grace? That she is worthy of being brought up to Heaven by the grace of the angels? Curator: Exactly! But let's dig a bit deeper into that imagery of angels. Consider the recurring visual of winged beings – a synthesis of human and avian forms – appearing across cultures. Why wings, do you think? What enduring idea might that symbol evoke? Editor: Wings evoke freedom and divinity. Maybe also swiftness? The ability to traverse the earthly and the heavenly realms, perhaps? Curator: Precisely. They're liminal figures, messengers between worlds. Now, observe Magdalene herself: notice how her hair cascades down, almost grounding her even as she rises. Does that visual paradox speak to any specific quality or emotional struggle associated with her in religious stories? Editor: It almost suggests a sense of still clinging to the earthly world, even as she is being elevated to heaven. As though she doesn't want to leave, and the hair is a literal tether. Curator: Fascinating observation! The artist might be visually representing that internal conflict. An early form of psychological nuance, perhaps. Seeing such intimate spiritual reckonings, so meticulously drawn in ink, helps us appreciate both the artist’s technical skill and the depth of medieval spirituality. Editor: I hadn't considered that duality before. Thanks for drawing out all the layers!