Saint Catherine c. 17th century

Editor: Here we have Jacob Neeffs' "Saint Catherine," an engraving from the 17th century. It strikes me as a depiction of power and defiance, considering the sword and wheel. What do you see in this piece, considering the context of its time? Curator: It's interesting you say that. Neeffs, working in a period of intense religious and political upheaval, presents Catherine not just as a saint, but as a figure of resistance. Note the Latin inscription—it's from Romans 8:35, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" The sword, the wheel, the palm... they're not just symbols of martyrdom, they become emblems of unwavering faith in the face of oppression. How does her gaze strike you? Editor: It's direct, almost challenging. Curator: Precisely! Neeffs gives her agency. She's not a passive victim but an active participant in her own story, a potent image for those facing persecution. It's a call for steadfastness, a visual manifesto of resistance against forces that seek to divide and conquer. Editor: So it’s about more than just religious devotion; it is about empowerment and resistance! Curator: Exactly! And that gives us a powerful lens through which to consider images of women and faith even today.