St. Mary Magdalene at the Foot of the Cross

Art Historical Context

In the late 16th century, engraver Harmen Jans. Muller (also known as Jan Muller), active in Antwerp and Amsterdam, created *St. Mary Magdalene at Foot of the Cross* 1593. This engraving captures a deeply emotional moment from the Crucion, with Mary Magdalene kneeling in sorrow at the base of the cross bearing Christ. A staple of Christian iconography, the Magdalene symbolizes repentance and devotion, her figure often rendered with dramatic pathos in Northern European art of the period. As New Hollstein's first state of two, this rare early impression (7 9/16 × 11 11/16 in.) showcases Muller's mastery of engraving—a meticulous intaglio technique where fine lines are incised into a copper plate, inked, and pressed onto paper. Engravings like this were revolutionary for their time, allowing intricate designs to be reproduced and widely distributed affordably, bridging the gap between elite paintings and everyday devotees during the Reformation era. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, 1951), the work reflects the enduring Catholic visual tradition in the Protestant North, blending Mannerist elegance with spiritual intensity. Visitors will appreciate its delicate line work, evoking quiet reverence amid historical turmoil.

About the Artist

Jan Muller|Harmen Jansz. Muller · 1571–1628

**Jan Harmensz. Muller (1571–1628)** Born in Amsterdam in 1571, Jan Harmensz. Muller grew up immersed in the world of printmaking, as the son of the prominent engraver, publisher, and book printer Harmen Jansz. Muller. He studied under his father, mastering the engraving trade within the family business, The Gilded Compasses. Around 1589, Muller joined the workshop of Hendrick Goltzius in Haarlem...