Heilige Catharina van Alexandrië met gebroken wiel en zwaard 1623 - 1660

Pieter de Bailliu etched this print of Saint Catherine of Alexandria. A broken wheel and a sword, symbols of her martyrdom, define her story. The wheel, meant to torture her, miraculously broke upon her touch. The sword then became her executioner’s tool. But these are not mere instruments of death; they are emblems of transformation. The wheel, initially a symbol of relentless, torturous fate, shatters, signifying the triumph of faith over earthly power. Similarly, the sword, a classic symbol of swift and decisive justice, is here refigured. We see the motifs of both wheel and sword recur throughout history, embodying this shifting narrative. The saint’s serene gaze heavenward invites us to consider our inner strength. Catherine embodies the power of spiritual conviction, an emotionally powerful force that resonates across centuries. Her story, retold and reimagined, becomes a testament to the enduring strength of the human spirit.