Heilige Catharina 1724

This engraving of Saint Catherine was made by Michel Aubert, an artist working in France in the first half of the 18th century. It depicts Saint Catherine of Alexandria, a popular figure in Christian art, identifiable by her attributes: the wheel of her martyrdom, the sword with which she was beheaded, and the palm of victory. But what does it mean to depict a saint like this? In Catholic countries such as France, religious images played an important social role, reinforcing popular faith and the power of the Church. The sumptuous robes and classical architecture remind us of the wealth of that institution. The angels present Catherine with a crown of flowers, a symbol of heavenly reward, reinforcing the promise of salvation for the faithful. To understand this image better, we might research the role of the Catholic Church in 18th-century France, the lives of the Saints, and the printmaking industry of the time. The study of such cultural and institutional contexts helps us to better understand the public role of art and the politics of imagery.