Tip: move over the painting to use the lens.
The Penitent Magdalen
Georges de La Tour · ca. 1640
- Artist
- Georges de La Tour French, Vic-sur-Seille 1593–1652 Lunéville
- Date
- ca. 1640
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Size
- 52 1/2 x 40 1/4 in. (133.4 x 102.2 cm)
- Where to see it
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wrightsman, 1978 · CC0 Public Domain · The Met · see it at the museum ↗
Slow Look
- The whole picture Let your eyes wander. Where do they want to rest?
- The light Find the brightest spot. What is it showing you?
- The edges Look at what is half cut off at the borders.
- One small detail Choose one tiny thing and stay with it for a while.
- The whole picture again Step back. Has it changed for you?
About Georges de La Tour
Georges de La Tour was a French Baroque painter, who spent most of his working life in the Duchy of Lorraine, which was temporarily absorbed into France between 1641 and 1648. He painted mostly religious chiaroscuro scenes lit by candlelight.
What do you see?
Stand in front of it for a moment. Then tell us what you noticed or felt - there are no wrong answers.
Be the first to share a thought.
