Saint Barbara c. 17th century

Editor: This is Wallerant Vaillant's "Saint Barbara," a monochrome print. She seems serene holding a tower. What do you see in it? Curator: I see a potent symbol of female resistance. Barbara, imprisoned for her faith, becomes an emblem of defiance against patriarchal structures. The tower isn't just a prison; it's a space of intellectual and spiritual growth, a challenge to imposed limitations. Editor: So, it is more than just the story of a saint? Curator: Absolutely. It's about how women historically carved out spaces of agency, transforming confinement into empowerment. It makes you wonder how we today can reinterpret symbols of constraint into catalysts for freedom. Editor: That's a powerful perspective. I'll definitely think about that.