Maria Magdalena knielend aan de voet van het kruis 1602

This engraving by Jacob Matham shows Mary Magdalene kneeling at the foot of the cross. Matham was working in the Netherlands during the Counter-Reformation, a period when the Catholic Church sought to reassert its authority through emotional and dramatic imagery. Here, Mary Magdalene is not just a witness but an active participant in the scene, embodying grief and repentance. Her presence challenges the traditional, patriarchal interpretations of the crucifixion, which often focus solely on Christ's sacrifice. By placing her prominently in the foreground, Matham elevates her status, suggesting that her emotional experience is central to understanding the event. The skull and ointment jar serve as symbols of mortality and redemption, common in depictions of Mary Magdalene. The image encapsulates a complex interplay of religious doctrine, gender roles, and personal emotion. It asks us to consider how individual experiences of faith intersect with broader narratives of salvation.