Christus aan het kruis met Maria Magdalena 1582 - 1671

Heinrich Ulrich created this engraving, Christus aan het kruis met Maria Magdalena, sometime around the late 16th or early 17th century. Ulrich lived during the Counter-Reformation, a period when the Catholic Church sought to reaffirm its authority. Here, we see Christ on the cross, but our eye is drawn to Mary Magdalene at the foot of the cross, her face a mask of grief. Mary Magdalene is often portrayed as a repentant sinner. The inscription at the bottom translates to “Magdalene alone washes away her crimes with tears, adoring Christ hanging on the cross.” Mary Magdalene’s sorrow becomes a focal point, emphasizing personal redemption through faith. By depicting Mary Magdalene in such an emotional state, Ulrich encourages viewers to connect with the scene on a personal level, thus engaging with the themes of repentance and divine mercy. This engraving, therefore, is not just a depiction of a biblical scene, but an invitation to contemplate the intersection of personal failing, divine forgiveness, and spiritual renewal.