Conversion of Saint Paul c. 17th century

Editor: Jacques Callot's "Conversion of Saint Paul," a small but incredibly detailed etching, feels so turbulent! What symbolic weight do you think the artist is trying to convey here? Curator: Notice how the divine light clashes with the earthly chaos of soldiers. Consider what this suggests about the psychological drama of Paul’s experience. Does the artist depict the moment of conversion as an internal or external event? Editor: It's interesting that you point out the contrast between the divine and the chaos of the scene. Curator: Absolutely. Callot uses this scene to show Paul's personal transformation and the disruption it caused in the world. A powerful image, rich in cultural memory. Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered before! Thanks for clarifying that.