Saint Radegunda c. 17th century

Editor: This small etching, "Saint Radegunda" by Jacques Callot, depicts the saint in great detail, despite its miniature scale. I’m curious about the decision to portray her with laborers in the background. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The figures laboring remind us to examine the material conditions of this image's production and consumption. Callot's etching process itself involved skilled labor and specialized materials, from the metal plate to the ink. How might this print have circulated and been used? Editor: Perhaps it was a devotional object for the wealthy, given the detail and Callot’s skill? Curator: Possibly, but its existence also speaks to a broader market for religious imagery. This challenges traditional divisions between "high art" and more accessible forms of religious material culture. Think about the labor involved in even owning this image. Editor: That’s a great point. I hadn’t considered the wider implications of its production and consumption.