Mary Magdalen 1480 - 1500

Curator: Standing before us is a striking engraving from the late 15th or early 16th century, titled "Mary Magdalen". Its attributed to the Master i.e., and it's held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: The figure exudes such melancholic stillness. The stark black and white amplifies the gravity. Her gaze is averted, lost in thought it seems. Curator: As an engraving, think about the physical act; the artist meticulously incising lines into a metal plate, each mark bearing witness to the story and contributing to the distribution of her image to a wider public. Editor: And she holds an ointment jar. It signifies, of course, her role in anointing Jesus's feet, which transforms her from a sinner to someone granted salvation through devoted acts. A radical image in terms of craft, allowing many people the chance to learn this version of her history. Curator: The engraving truly captures that tension; it balances her penitent image with a very refined execution. Note how the artist uses varied line weights to define the folds of her clothing and create depth. And consider this artwork was circulating among varied groups of people. What version of morality was spread with it? Editor: Yes, there's a powerful dichotomy between the opulence of her garment, with the embroidery, and her expression that signifies deep contrition. These emblems and sartorial codes convey her high birth, despite being penitent, adding another dimension of intrigue to the familiar iconography of redemption. The vessel has such potent symbolism, representing repentance but also a way into spiritual insight. Curator: Looking at the artwork with this approach has allowed me to grasp how its symbolic language was spread. Editor: And it's allowed me to be reminded about the cultural values we assign to craft and how they speak to memory, tradition, and our perception of labor today.