Verheerlijking van de heilige Catharina c. 1581 - 1612

Theodoor Galle made this engraving, "Glorification of Saint Catherine," around 1600 in Antwerp. It depicts Catherine of Alexandria, a popular saint whose legendary resistance to torture made her a symbol of faith and defiance, especially during the Counter-Reformation. Galle's image is rife with the visual rhetoric typical of its time. The broken torture wheel and defeated executioners contrast sharply with Catherine's serene composure and the angelic presence above. This wasn't just a religious scene; it was a political one, too. Antwerp, under Spanish rule, was a hotbed of religious and political tension. Galle’s engravings found a ready market for images of steadfast faith in the face of persecution. Understanding the full meaning of the artwork requires attention to its historical context, the religious and political conflicts of its time, and the traditions of printmaking in Antwerp. Such research helps us see art not as isolated objects, but as products of a particular moment in history.