Seeing Mary Magdalene through the Centuries

Abstract This article explores the evolving visual representations of Mary Magdalene across centuries, highlighting how artists reimagine her identity through changing theological, cultural, and artistic contexts. From her early narrative inclusion in Late Antique and Byzantine art to her emergence as a symbolic figure of penance and redemption in Medieval and Renaissance imagery, she maintains recognizable attributes such as the unguent jar, flowing hair, and red garments. Modern and contemporary artists reinterpret her persona through diverse media, including sculpture, print, painting, and even video, affirming her continued resonance in devotional and artistic traditions. These representations often blur distinctions among the historical Magdalene, fictional composites, and other saintly figures, reflecting both her symbolic power and visual adaptability. Finally, the article reveals how Mary Magdalene’s enduring appeal lies in her visual fluidity, theological ambiguity, and ability to bridge the sacred and secular in ways that remain meaningful across time and culture.