Heilige Barbara met palmtak en zwaard 1610 - 1614

This is Boëtius Adamsz. Bolswert's engraving of Saint Barbara, made sometime in the 17th century. Bolswert was working in a period of religious and political conflict, particularly between the Protestant North and Catholic South of the Netherlands. Saint Barbara, often depicted with a tower, palm branch, and sword, symbolizes strength and defiance in the face of persecution. This engraving situates Barbara as a figure of female empowerment within a religious context. Her serene expression and the angel crowning her with a wreath offer a complex interplay of piety and strength. The sword at her feet is both an instrument of her martyrdom and a symbol of her unwavering faith. Bolswert’s choice to depict Barbara this way speaks to the period's broader negotiation of female roles, religious identity, and political resistance. The text at the bottom offers a personal reflection on the saint’s virtue and sacrifice: “Barbara, I am what I am, not from myself, but Barbara made me.” The print not only reflects the religious devotion of the time but also invites a contemplation on female agency, spiritual conviction, and the narratives we construct around our cultural heroes.