The Magdalen
1587
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1587
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This etching shows a woman sitting on a rock, holding a small book or object in her hands. She’s dressed in flowing robes and has curly hair, with rays of light shining down around her. The background has rough, textured lines that look like clouds or stormy skies, with some branches or vines at the edges. The artist used shading to make her face and hands stand out against the darker background. The light seems to come from above, highlighting her peaceful expression. Next, look up chiaroscuro to see how this lighting trick works in other art.
