Saint Margaret c. 1480 - 1490

Israhel van Meckenem created this engraving of Saint Margaret in the late fifteenth century. The image encapsulates ideas about female piety in the late medieval period in Northern Europe. We see Saint Margaret standing over a subdued dragon, holding a book which symbolizes her faith. The dragon is a visual metaphor for the temptations Margaret overcame through her unwavering Christian belief. The engraving circulated during a time of increasing religious and social change, with new forms of piety emphasizing personal devotion. The legend of Saint Margaret was popular then, offering a powerful story about the triumph of faith. The imagery here draws upon existing visual codes, but also contributes to the ongoing construction of gender roles within the religious context. Understanding this artwork requires us to consider the social and religious context in which it was produced. By consulting historical texts, religious documents, and studies on gender in the period, we can better grasp the image's social role.