Mary Magdalene in penitence in the desert 1805 - 1815

Giuseppe Longhi made this engraving, Mary Magdalene in Penitence in the Desert, sometime around the turn of the 19th century. Longhi was Italian and his image reflects a renewed interest in religious subjects as well as the female nude, both of which had been challenged during the Enlightenment. Here, Mary Magdalene is depicted in a state of reflection. She appears to be reading in nature, but as an allegorical figure she is associated with a very specific history. She represents the fallen woman who seeks redemption through religious devotion. The visual codes in Longhi’s print relate to specific cultural and historical associations between women and sin. The rise of institutionalized religion in the West meant that female sexuality was often seen as something dangerous needing to be controlled. Art historians might consult religious texts, social commentaries, and histories of gender in order to better understand the multiple contexts evoked in this artwork. Considering these contexts helps us understand the cultural and historical significance of this image.