Seven Blessed Sleepers c. 17th century

Editor: This is Jacques Callot's "Seven Blessed Sleepers". I’m immediately struck by the contrast between the slumbering figures and the lively gathering in the background. What's your take on this intriguing piece? Curator: It feels like a dream within a dream, doesn’t it? Callot masterfully uses the etching technique to create a sense of depth. The seven sleepers, escaping religious persecution, sought refuge in a cave. Do you see how the cave is both their protector and their prison? It invites reflection. Editor: Prison is an interesting way to look at it. I was focused on the safety of being asleep. Curator: Perhaps it’s both, isn't it? Like most things, art can hold more than one truth, and that's the beauty of it.