St. Catherine of Alexandria 1644 - 1652

Here we have Wenceslaus Hollar’s engraving "St. Catherine of Alexandria," printed on paper, now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The composition immediately draws the eye to the face of St. Catherine. Note how the delicate lines of the engraving create a soft, almost ethereal quality. The contrast between light and shadow gives form to the drapery and figure. The texture, achieved through fine hatching, invites a sense of tactile engagement. The formal elements work together to create a visually rich, yet harmonious whole. Hollar's choice of engraving as a medium aligns with the aesthetic values of the 17th century, where clarity and precision were highly prized. The print embodies the era's fascination with transforming visual information into systems of signs and symbols. The texture contributes to the narrative and theological implications of the image, reflecting prevailing cultural codes. Ultimately, this engraving, viewed through a formalist lens, reveals a complex interplay of technique and symbolic representation, characteristic of Hollar’s engagement with the visual and intellectual culture of his time.