The Dishonest Steward c. 1576 - 1580

Curator: This small, but densely populated engraving is titled "The Dishonest Steward," created around 1576-1580 by Léonard Gaultier. It's fascinating how much narrative detail he manages to pack into such a tiny space. Editor: It has the aura of a theatrical set, almost, all the players on the stage with different dramas happening at the same time. Is it from something, a specific source? Curator: It is! Gaultier is visually interpreting the biblical parable of the shrewd manager, found in the Gospel of Luke. That story deals with the question of how a human, even in the absence of justice, may yet discern a clever strategy in action that reflects a wisdom beyond law. Editor: Well, that adds another layer to the visual overload. Just look at the repetition of forms in this piece—the arches that frame both the background village and the interior action almost seem to mimic each other. Are they symbolic, echoing something specific from the parable? Curator: I think it's the Mannerist style coming through in the forms; a sense of artificiality is being played out in every choice. Look how much of the scene takes place on one plane of view in the front with a glimpse of some far-off thing through arches in the back. I would suppose this reflects the steward's divided loyalties. Editor: Loyalty certainly doesn’t seem to be rewarded. What a brilliant and concise visual story about power, accounting, and maybe a little self-preservation? The Steward is hedging bets with different people—and seems to have quite a large audience for his exploits. I love that tension between intimacy and the wider social theater in this little engraving. Curator: Gaultier's talent for compressing complex ideas into visual form—using every square inch of this little tableau—is simply brilliant. It has held my attention, and revealed new narrative possibilities to me as we have discussed it, in unexpected ways. Editor: It's the feeling of compression, isn’t it? Like some powerful moral trapped within a jewel.