The Martyrdom of Saint Catherine 1563

This is Mario Cartaro’s engraving, "The Martyrdom of Saint Catherine," made in the late 16th century. Cartaro was active in Rome during a period of intense religious reform and conflict. Here, Saint Catherine stands with her arms outstretched, bathed in divine light as angels descend. At her feet are the broken remains of the spiked wheel, an instrument of torture meant to break her body and her spirit. But instead, the wheel is shattered, and her torturers are writhing on the ground. Catherine, a woman of noble birth, was persecuted for her Christian faith. Her story speaks to the historical struggles faced by women who dared to challenge authority. This image offers a potent statement of resistance to the patriarchal structures of the time. It elevates Catherine to a position of strength, her faith unyielding in the face of brutality. The intensely graphic scene asks us to consider the cost of faith, and to think about how such narratives have been used to both inspire and control.