Saints Donatilla, Maxima, and Secunda c. 17th century

Editor: This small engraving, "Saints Donatilla, Maxima, and Secunda" by Jacques Callot, is strikingly violent. The women face their executioners with an almost casual indifference. How do you interpret this scene? Curator: Notice how Callot uses the oval frame, a symbol of eternity, to contain this brutal scene. Even in the act of martyrdom, the saints are framed within a visual language of enduring faith. What do you make of that? Editor: So, the violence is tempered by the promise of eternal life. It's like the terror is softened by the hope of salvation. Curator: Precisely. It speaks volumes about the cultural memory of these figures, their suffering transformed into a symbol of unwavering belief. Editor: I hadn’t considered how deeply embedded these symbols are. Thanks!