The Penitent Magdalen by Georges de La Tour (Interpretation and Analysis)
The Penitent Magdalen Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art Among Baroque painters, French artist Georges de La Tour stands out as one of the most accomplished painters of his time. De La Tour’s work is exceptional, rich in shadow, light, and deep, jewel-toned colors. Like most Baroque artists, de La Tour was interested in experimenting with light, and his primary subject was religious scenes. In particular, de La Tour was intrigued by the biblical character of Mary Magdalene, one of Christ’s followers. De La Tour painted Mary Magdalene many times in different attitudes and situations. The Penitent Magdalen , which I’m discussing today, portrays Mary Magdalene sitting in a contemplative mood. Her face is turned away from the viewer as she gazes into a mirror. A candle sits in front of the mirror while a skull sits on her lap. As the Metropolitan Museum of Art (which owns the painting) notes, these items represent vanity, spiritual enlightenment, and mortality respectively. Acc...