Heilige Alexandra als kluizenares 1590 - 1662

This print, titled "Heilige Alexandra als kluizenares," or Saint Alexandra as a recluse, was made by an anonymous artist. It presents us with an interesting question about the role of the church and individual piety. Made in the Netherlands, it depicts Saint Alexandra in what looks like humble circumstances. Her eyes turn towards the heavens, illuminated by the light of faith. On the one hand, this image reinforces the traditional ideals of religious devotion. On the other hand, the stark setting and Alexandra's solitary posture may speak to the increasing emphasis on personal, rather than institutional, connections to religion at this time. To understand the print fully, a social historian might explore the changing religious landscape of the Netherlands, delving into pamphlets, sermons, and other visual representations of saints to better understand its meaning. Artworks like this show us that art doesn't exist in a vacuum.