Martelaarschap van heilige Emerentiana van Rome 1623 - 1660

Curator: This engraving from the Rijksmuseum depicts "The Martyrdom of Saint Emerentiana of Rome," dating from sometime between 1623 and 1660 and attributed to Pieter de Bailliu. Editor: Wow, instantly I'm struck by the almost performative quality of it. She’s so calm, even radiant, amidst all the…chaos? It's a powerful disconnect. Curator: Precisely! The composition layers this contrast masterfully. Note the radiant halo and heavenly figures juxtaposed with the violent scene below. It speaks volumes about the artist's investment in the theological interpretation of her sacrifice. The use of visual cues would underscore the Church's agenda during that period. Editor: Theological agendas, always lurking, aren't they? But seriously, the angels are cute, and I love how dramatic the Baroque era could be with these martyrdom scenes. Also, those enraged folks down below look ready to chuck anything! Rocks, fists… pure rage! Curator: Indeed, Baroque art is rife with such emotive displays. Yet, I'm particularly drawn to Emerentiana herself. In a narrative sense, it speaks to feminine agency within structures that inherently deny their very personhood. Here, a woman faces persecution—and death—with resolute strength in her convictions. Editor: Okay, yeah, there's that element for sure. Her gaze, raised towards the heavens, really drills that home. And it's moving when you realize how young she was at the moment of martyrdom; legend suggests only about 14 years old. Imagine! What this artist achieved! How vulnerable and heroic at the same time is a question of art. Curator: What strikes me most is how this print acts as a record of societal and gendered power dynamics—interlocking systems that dictate not only artistic expression, but the very real fates of people like Emerentiana. It's crucial to keep sight of the world in which this image held currency. Editor: Totally! This old engraving carries echoes still loud today. I have new food for thought! Curator: And, with careful interrogation, those echoes allow us a means to critically assess how such dynamics continue to influence the world we inhabit now.