Atoning Magdalene 

Guercino, or Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, created "Atoning Magdalene" using pen and brown ink, providing us with an intimate glimpse into the artist's process. The drawing captivates with its expressive lines and dynamic composition. Magdalene's figure, rendered with delicate yet assured strokes, dominates the scene, while the rough sketch of the angel above provides a visual counterpoint, adding depth to the composition. The formal elements here—the use of line, the interplay of light and shadow, and the positioning of figures—all converge to convey a sense of intense emotion. It's a powerful interplay between the earthly and the divine. Magdalene's gaze towards the heavens, combined with her clasped hands, evokes a sense of yearning and repentance. The sketch is imbued with a tension between the artist's observation and conceptual idea, capturing a moment of intense emotion and spiritual reflection. Note how the artist has used line not just to define form, but to suggest movement, emotion, and the very texture of experience.