Saint Arnulphus c. 17th century

Editor: So, here we have Jacques Callot's Saint Arnulphus, a small etching. I’m struck by the stark contrast between the saint’s active prayer and the still life around him. What do you make of this juxtaposition? Curator: It speaks volumes about the performative aspects of piety in the 17th century. Callot was working in a time of intense religious and political conflict. How might the image of Arnulphus’s solitary devotion reinforce or challenge existing power structures? Editor: That's a great point, the setting seems so austere and almost performative. Curator: Exactly! And how does the choice of etching, a readily reproducible medium, affect the dissemination and interpretation of this message across different social classes? Editor: Wow, I never thought about the medium that way. It all makes so much more sense now.