Saint Mary Magdalen 1573

Editor: Here we have Cornelis Cort's "Saint Mary Magdalen," etched sometime in the late 16th century. It has a somewhat melancholic feel to it. What do you make of the way Magdalen is placed within this landscape? Curator: It's a deeply personal interpretation, isn't it? The landscape almost mirrors her internal state - wild, a bit untamed, yet containing a quiet space for reflection. She's not just *in* nature, she *is* nature. Almost like the trees themselves, reaching for something beyond. Editor: That's lovely, I hadn't considered that parallel. Curator: It makes you wonder, doesn't it, about our own place within the grand scheme. Are we the Magdalen, the forest, or maybe just a fallen leaf? It’s a piece that invites more questions than answers, which is often the best kind of art, don’t you think?