Saint Helena c. 17th century

Editor: This is Jacques Callot’s "Saint Helena," an engraving. The detail is amazing, considering the medium. What strikes me most is the way Helena is interacting with the cross. What do you make of it? Curator: It's fascinating to consider the labor involved in creating such intricate details through engraving. The print's materiality—the paper, the ink, the metal plate—and the process of its production all inform the meaning. Consider how prints like this were circulated; how did the act of its creation and distribution affect consumption and devotional practices? Editor: That's a great point. It makes you think about the wider context in which it was made and used. Curator: Exactly. By examining the means of production, we move beyond traditional notions of artistic genius and appreciate the social and economic forces at play. Editor: Thanks, I will remember to think about the conditions of production.