H. Lucia 1608 - 1688

Curator: This is Claude Mellan's "H. Lucia," an engraving that, judging from its style, was likely crafted sometime in the 17th century. Its linear quality gives it a distinct Baroque feel. What captures your eye initially? Editor: It's haunting, in a way. The light source feels almost supernatural, bathing the figure in an ethereal glow. It has an almost uncomfortable serenity. Curator: Mellan’s expertise in line engraving truly shines here, wouldn't you agree? The textures, especially in the drapery and Lucia's hair, are remarkably rendered using just a single tool and line variations. Editor: Absolutely, it’s like he’s using geometry to evoke emotion, the way those radiating lines almost pulsate from behind her head. There’s something potent in its visual rhetoric. Lucia, in religious iconography, of course, is the patron saint of sight. But the composition does something interesting by shifting our own vision, forcing us to interpret, to engage. Curator: You are right, Saint Lucia is usually portrayed holding her eyes on a plate. Here she holds what looks like a chalice and a palm leaf. This challenges our immediate understanding of who this saint is; making us reflect on her representation throughout history. Editor: And perhaps Mellan asks us what we *choose* to see when we look at someone. Think about her story and martyrdom being used throughout time to encourage young women to embrace patriarchal religion... Curator: An interesting reading, indeed, to bring feminist analysis to the fore. The delicacy of line contrasts powerfully with the harsh reality of Saint Lucia’s history. Editor: This delicate yet defiant rendition really invites reflection on visual stories, and who is writing them, as much as the act of sight itself. Curator: A lot of perspectives to consider in such a delicate rendering of the Baroque.