Catharina verschijnt voor een gezelschap aan tafel 1603

Cornelis Galle I created this engraving, now held in the Rijksmuseum, depicting Saint Catherine levitating before a startled gathering. Observe how Catherine, bathed in divine light, seems to float effortlessly, her hands clasped in prayer. This motif of levitation, a symbolic ascent towards the heavens, resonates across cultures and epochs. Consider the yogis of ancient India, or the ecstatic visions of mystics throughout history. The upward movement signifies transcendence, a liberation from earthly constraints. Even the simple act of raising one's hands in supplication echoes this primal desire to connect with something beyond ourselves. The reactions of the people at the table tap into deep-seated psychological responses: awe, fear, disbelief. The contrast between the mundane scene of dining and the miraculous apparition creates a powerful tension. Like a collective dream, this image speaks to the subconscious yearning for the extraordinary within the ordinary. Such a pictorial depiction, born from a specific time, joins an endless chain, resurfacing again and again. The symbol perpetually shifts, taking on new meanings while carrying echoes of its past.