Heilige Syncletica van Alexandrië als kluizenares 1590 - 1619

Boëtius Adamsz. Bolswert created this print, "Heilige Syncletica van Alexandrië als kluizenares," using engraving. The print shows Saint Syncletica, bathed in divine light, her gaze lifted in fervent prayer. Her form is constructed through dense, precise lines that articulate the voluminous folds of her habit, juxtaposed against the stark backdrop of her hermitage. The composition, although simple, is charged with a visual tension between the saint’s upward gaze and the earthly symbols of mortality at her feet. The engraving technique itself is significant. The precise, controlled lines articulate a world governed by spiritual order, yet the cross-hatching introduces a level of complexity. This interplay reflects broader artistic and philosophical concerns about the intersection of the divine and the human, where the materiality of the engraving—the very lines etched into the plate—becomes a medium for exploring transcendental themes. In essence, the artwork uses form to explore the relationship between the human and the divine. This highlights the role of art in shaping and questioning our understanding of existence.