St Mary Magdalen in ecstasy 1571 - 1610

Curator: At first glance, the monochrome medium and delicate lines seem in stark contrast to the subject’s overt emotional intensity. Editor: Indeed. This is “St Mary Magdalen in ecstasy”, a drawing whose authorship remains anonymous, dating roughly from 1571 to 1610. It’s currently housed at the SMK, the Statens Museum for Kunst. Curator: The artist, using wash and possibly a quill, renders Mary Magdalene in a moment of spiritual transcendence. Her upturned gaze and clasped hands are age-old symbols for religious fervor. It taps into a tradition of portraying female saints experiencing divine ecstasy. Editor: And not to miss the memento mori nestled near the base: a starkly rendered skull, seemingly supporting the Magdalene. The choice of drawing implies an accessibility. Were sketches like these perhaps reproduced into engravings for a larger consumer audience, or circulated among other artists? Curator: I think your reading hits on a critical point: the skull grounds the ethereal moment in a very earthly reality. In the 16th and early 17th centuries, the vanitas theme was really gaining traction. A counterpoint to the extravagance of the era perhaps? Here, death quite literally underpins her ecstasy. It emphasizes the transient nature of earthly life in contrast to eternal salvation. Editor: Looking closely, you can also discern the process – thin layers upon thin layers of washes creating depth. Also notice the rather thin and absorbent material which gives a certain frailty to the scene. I wonder what material was readily accessible and valued for creating an expressive visual image? What type of commerce created the material demand for something like this? Curator: I see your point. The medium's inherent ephemerality adds another layer of meaning. Even in devotion, all material existence fades. Ultimately the scene encourages you to meditate on what remains. Editor: For me, understanding the labor, material, and circulation contributes a whole different appreciation for a devotional practice that I thought I already knew.