Saint Elizabeth of Portugal c. 17th century

Curator: This is Jacques Callot's "Saint Elizabeth of Portugal", a small engraving. The scale makes it look intimate, but all those lines give it a sort of busy energy. Editor: The use of etching here, with its readily reproducible lines, speaks to broader consumption and dissemination of images, even of saints. Note the oval frame, likely intended for a series. Curator: I'm drawn to Elizabeth's expression. It's subtle, but there's a hint of both humility and defiance as she gives. Maybe she's thinking, "Here, take this, but remember where it came from." Editor: Consider the socio-economic context: Callot, born in the late 16th century, witnessed significant shifts in the production and consumption of art. The saint acts as a conduit of wealth, a physical manifestation of societal needs and disparities. Curator: I keep wondering what the whole story is. Is she giving alms? Is she returning stolen goods? It has a lovely openness about it. Editor: Indeed, and that openness speaks to the work's function as a devotional object but also a commodity within a burgeoning print market.