The Penitent Magdalene
1609
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1609
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
The Penitent Magdalene is a 1609 ink by Willem van Swanenburgh, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a woman with long hair wrapped around her head, sitting on the ground. She holds a skull in one hand and a small jar in the other. Behind her, a tree with flowers and vines grows, while waves crash nearby. The lines are sharp and detailed, creating shadows and texture. The skull and jar suggest she might be thinking about life and death. The text around the image is in Latin, which often means this piece has a deeper meaning. Try looking up engraving to see how artists create these detailed prints.
Willem van Swanenburgh (1607–1607) was an artist.
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