The Repentant Magdalene, by Georges De La Tour, has been one of my favorite paintings since college. And I just found out, while writing this post, that it’s at the National Gallery, just 15 minutes from me! Ack! I’ll be making a little trip there very soon.
Anyway, look at how much is going on in this painting. The obscured flame, the mirror, the intensely contemplative composition, the use of “white” space (which in this case happens to be black). That’s not even to mention the Magdalene’s hand is resting on a skull (mortality, the wages of sin) that obscures the fixed object of her attention, the light (of the World). Note that her dark shoulder is exposed, while she turns into the light with a modestly covered shoulder. And the light! Look at that light!
Love. National Gallery, here I come.