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Death of the Magdalene

Jacques Callot

1632

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque Allegory

Dominant colour

Death of the Magdalene is a 1632 ink by Jacques Callot, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Jacques Callot
When & what style?: 1632 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This etching shows a woman lying on a bed, surrounded by dark shadows. She's dressed in a long robe, with her head tilted back and her eyes closed. A skull sits on a nearby table, and a curtain hangs in the background. The scene is set in a dimly lit room, with the only light coming from an unseen source. The woman's body is relaxed, with her arms at her sides. The skull on the table adds a sense of mortality to the scene. The etching is a powerful depiction of death and the afterlife. For more on the artist who created this work, look up Callot, Jacques.