Saint Joseph the Just c. 17th century

Curator: This is Jacques Callot's "Saint Joseph the Just," a small but evocative engraving from the early 17th century. Editor: It feels like a fleeting moment, almost a dream. The lines are so delicate, yet there’s a gravity to Joseph's gaze as he accepts the goblet. Curator: Indeed. Callot, deeply influenced by the Counter-Reformation, often used prints like these to disseminate Catholic imagery and reinforce social hierarchies. Note how Joseph's piety is contrasted with the servile gesture of the offering. Editor: Right, there's this undercurrent of power, of divine right, even in this intimate scene. It makes you wonder about the artist's own beliefs, doesn't it? Curator: Absolutely. Callot was working in a time of immense religious and political upheaval, which must have shaped his perspective. Editor: It's humbling to think about the stories and struggles compressed into this little oval. Thanks, it really makes you think.