Saint Jerome c. 17th century

Editor: This is Jacques Callot’s "Saint Jerome," an etching. It’s quite small, but so detailed. The mood feels, well, turbulent, almost agitated. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a man wrestling with himself in the wilderness, quite literally. Callot's Jerome isn't just in nature; he's *of* it, almost consumed by it, don't you think? The sharp lines, the almost frantic energy of the etching itself mirror that internal struggle. Editor: That's a great way to put it! Curator: And notice the skull—a memento mori, a reminder of mortality, staring up at Jerome. It's as if Callot is saying, "Even in spiritual pursuit, we can't escape our earthly anxieties." I find that deeply comforting, oddly enough. Editor: I do too. Curator: It certainly lends some perspective, doesn't it? I think I appreciate the wildness of it all even more now. Editor: Me too! Thanks!