The Penitent Magdalene (Magdalena Poenitens), from 'The Large Landscapes'
Original title: The Penitent Magdalene (Magdalena Poenitens), from "The Large Landscapes"
kurzbeschreibung
Magdalena kneels in prayer in the foreground of this etching by Johannes van Doetecum I. Made around 1555–56 for the series 'Die großen Landschaften', the print carries the eye from the figure outward into a wide landscape of mountains, rivers and a castle.
Description
A praying figure occupies the foreground, with paths and small settlements at either side; beyond her, a broad landscape view opens up. A castle rises on a hill, rivers divide the terrain into several zones, and trees and shrubs step the depth back in stages. The layout runs horizontally, and black and white with even lighting govern the sheet.
Context
The etching belongs to the series 'Die großen Landschaften', which Johannes van Doetecum I executed after designs by Albrecht Altdorfer. Altdorfer, a member of the Danube School, was known for his richly detailed landscapes. The series was made in the Netherlands in the 1550s, where van Doetecum worked as a copperplate engraver. Such landscape series appealed to collectors and helped spread Renaissance landscape art across Europe.
Impact
A quiet, contemplative mood comes off the sheet, carried by the even distribution of light and the idyllic breadth of the view. The precise linework and abundance of detail reward close looking and reveal a firm command of the etching technique.
Technique
In etching, lines are bitten into an acid-resistant ground on a copper plate. Fine hatching and graduated contrasts model the forms and create spatial depth. Printed on paper, the sheet measures 32.3 x 42.8 cm.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)