Maria Magdalena aan haar toilettafel 1613 - 1643

Charles David created this print, *Maria Magdalena aan haar toilettafel*, sometime in the early 17th century. Note the composition, it’s divided between light and shadow to create a deeply introspective space. The textures are rendered through delicate lines of the engraving on the plate. Observe how the artist uses line to construct form and express emotion. Mary Magdalene gazes upward; the halo is almost an afterthought. The composition directs our focus less to her piety and more to her own emotional turmoil. The materiality of the print is interesting because prints allowed for the wide dissemination of images, thus democratizing art. Here, David uses the medium to explore themes of repentance and transformation. The somber tonality and thoughtful composition speak to broader philosophical concerns about sin, redemption, and the complex nature of human spirituality. What meaning do you make of it?