Sainte Catherine 

Abraham Bloemaert created this drawing of Sainte Catherine during the Dutch Golden Age, a time marked by shifting religious and political landscapes. The piece depicts Saint Catherine, a figure celebrated for her intellect and defiance, holding a sword, the instrument of her martyrdom. Note the broken wheel beneath her feet, another symbol of her story, along with the angels that surround her. Bloemaert, working in a society undergoing religious reformation, perhaps used Catherine’s story to reflect on themes of faith, resistance, and intellectual conviction. Consider the tension in the drawing: Catherine is both a figure of serene wisdom and a symbol of violent martyrdom. The drawing serves not just as a depiction of a saint, but as an exploration of the complex intersections of faith, knowledge, and power during a period of profound social change. It invites us to reflect on the personal and communal dimensions of belief in times of upheaval.