Penitent Magdalene 1756

Curator: This is Jacques Nicolas Tardieu's "Penitent Magdalene," an engraving held in the Harvard Art Museums. I'm struck by its somber mood. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by the male gaze inherent in this image. A woman, supposedly in spiritual contemplation, is presented as a vulnerable, sexualized figure. Curator: Indeed. The inclusion of the skull speaks to mortality, a common Baroque memento mori, but also to the narrative of Magdalene's repentance and renunciation of earthly pleasures. And the musical score? Editor: It is a symbol, perhaps, of her past life. We must contextualize this image within the patriarchal structures of the time, where female sexuality was often framed as inherently sinful. Curator: It is a visual language, a collection of symbols meant to evoke a very specific emotional and moral response, a narrative imposed on a woman’s identity. Editor: Ultimately, this piece allows us to reflect on how art has historically been used to reinforce gendered power dynamics.