Female saint 

Peter Becker created this pencil drawing of a Female Saint sometime in the 19th century. Becker lived at a time when religious and historical paintings were regaining prominence, particularly in Germany, often reinforcing traditional gender roles and moral values. In this drawing, the female saint is depicted within a Gothic arch, holding a book and a staff, and wearing a crown with a halo. The image suggests both power and piety, traits often ascribed to female saints. But what does it mean to represent a woman as both powerful and subservient to a higher power? Becker was part of the Düsseldorf school of painting, which emphasized detailed, realistic depictions, yet the emotional depth of the subject often feels understated. The saint embodies a complex mix of cultural ideals, reflecting the societal expectations and the limited roles prescribed to women in the 19th century, inviting reflection on the narratives we construct around female figures in history and religion.