The Penitent Magdalen
1650
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1650
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This black-and-white print shows a woman kneeling on rocky ground, her head bowed. She wears a loose robe, and her hair is loose or unbound. Behind her, a stormy sky looms over jagged cliffs, while trees and bushes cling to the rocky slope. The woman’s face looks calm despite the wild landscape. The artist used deep shadows and rough textures to show her struggle and the harsh surroundings. Look up Baroque to see how drama and emotion shaped this era’s art.
