Mary Magdalene with Oil Lamp 1635

"Mary Magdalene with Oil Lamp" (1635), a masterpiece by Georges de la Tour, depicts the biblical figure of Mary Magdalene in a contemplative moment. The painting, housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris, is characterized by its dramatic use of chiaroscuro, a technique that emphasizes the contrast between light and shadow. The single, flickering light of the oil lamp casts a dramatic glow on Mary Magdalene's face and the skull she holds, creating a sense of both serenity and introspection. This powerful image, imbued with religious symbolism, was a defining work of the French Baroque style.