Saint Catherine of Alexandria 1625 - 1635

This is Charles David’s engraving of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, made in France in the early 17th century. It depicts a legendary figure, a Christian saint who was sentenced to death on a spiked breaking wheel for her religious beliefs, but was saved by divine intervention. Looking closely, we see Catherine with the attributes of her martyrdom: the palm branch representing victory over death, and a fragment of the wheel. But beyond the visual codes of religious iconography, the engraving gives us insight into the cultural and institutional landscape of its time. France was deeply Catholic, and the image reflects the Church's influence, while also subtly reinforcing existing social hierarchies. Catherine, though a saint, is also a royal figure, emphasizing the connection between divine authority and earthly power. By studying prints like this, alongside other historical records, we can better understand the complex interplay of religion, politics, and art in early modern France. The artwork becomes a window into the social structures of its time, prompting us to ask: whose stories were told, and whose were left out?