Saint Christine c. 17th century

Curator: This is Jacques Callot’s small etching, “Saint Christine”. It’s part of a series depicting various saints, and what immediately strikes me is its intimate scale, despite the drama it depicts. Editor: It does have a certain quiet intensity. Christine seems to be confronting figures of authority, perhaps challenging societal norms or religious dogma. I wonder, what narratives of female resistance were circulating at the time this was made? Curator: Callot lived during a period of religious and political upheaval; such images offered both devotion and potentially, subtly, questioned power structures. The printmaking process itself allowed for wider circulation of such ideas. Editor: Precisely! It's fascinating to consider how this small image might have functioned within broader conversations about faith, gender, and resistance during its time. Thank you for shedding light on the context. Curator: My pleasure; context always deepens our understanding.