Baroque Blog

.              GEORGES DE LA TOUR, THE PENITENT MAGDALENE, C. 1640

 

    I chose the Penitent Magdalene painting to represent the Baroque era, made in 1640. It was painted with oil on canvas by Georges De La Tour. This painting is also known by the name, 'Magdalen with Two Flames.' 

I think the contrast the candlelight brings to the painting and reflecting onto the women draws the viewers' attention. The tone is dark and quiet. The color choice I also this is interesting. The woman is very pale, with an orange blanket on her lap, and she's wearing a white nightgown. I think this helps draw our attention to the skull on her lap, the orange blanket, and the frame of the mirror.  I also noticed what appeared to be jewelry on the floor, barely visible. There is also the use of shadows in the painting. I think this painting is beautiful and I think it begs a lot of questions. I like how it's kinda left to the imagination. I couldn't seem to find consistent background information on this painting. I do love the fact people create things for their own reasons, with a story in their head or a memory, or meaning, and then once it's put out into the world every person who sees it develops their own meaning. Art is subjective. I would definitely own a print of this painting. 

    


Works Cited 

Cole, Margherita. “15 Paintings That Define the Drama of the Baroque Art Movement.” My Modern Met, 11 Aug. 2022, mymodernmet.com/famous-baroque-paintings/.

French, Georges de La Tour. “Georges de La Tour: The Penitent Magdalen.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436839. Accessed 12 Oct. 2023.

“Georges de La Tour.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 4 Oct. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges_de_La_Tour#.






 

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