Drei Entwürfe zu einer stehenden Heiligen Barbara c. 1460

This drawing presents three studies of Saint Barbara, each holding symbols that speak to her legend. We see her with a tower, a chalice or cannon, and a book, emblems of her imprisonment, faith, and learning, respectively. Consider the tower, Barbara's prison, which became her sanctuary. It echoes through time – a motif of enclosure, seen in the myth of Danaë, confined by her father, or Rapunzel, isolated yet hopeful. The tower is not merely a prison, but a symbol of protection. A womb-like space where transformation occurs. The endurance of such symbols reveals our collective unconscious. These images resonate because they tap into primal fears and hopes, endlessly reconfigured across centuries. It’s a testament to the power of symbols to engage our subconscious on a profound level.