Mary Magdalene c. 16th century

Curator: This engraving, titled *Mary Magdalene*, is by an anonymous artist. Look at her posture, the throng of angels, and the text surrounding the image. There's a real tension, don't you think? It feels like a window into a very specific spiritual experience. Editor: It does! I feel the drama. What do you see in it? How do you interpret the relationship between Mary and the angels? Curator: I see a kind of medieval fan fiction! The artist is using recognizable imagery to amplify the devotion to Saint Birgitta, whose revelations are described in the surrounding text. What do you think about the relationship between text and image? Editor: I hadn’t considered that! It makes you wonder what other stories are hiding in plain sight.