Saint Jerome Resucitating an Infant 17th-18th century

Curator: Bernard Picart created this etching, "Saint Jerome Resuscitating an Infant." I’m immediately struck by the drama, the sheer theatricality of the scene. Editor: Indeed. I wonder about the etching process itself. How many plates were used to create the varying tones, and how did Picart achieve such delicate lines with what must have been incredibly sharp tools? Curator: Beyond the technique, consider Saint Jerome. He is often depicted with a lion, but here, the focus shifts to his role as a miracle worker, bringing life back. That gesture carries centuries of symbolic weight. Editor: Right, but the labor! Imagine the artisans who ground the inks, prepared the paper, and ran the printing presses. Their hands are all imprinted on this image. Curator: The image certainly resonates through time; it’s about the triumph over mortality, a theme that transcends eras. Editor: And it makes me consider the social structures that allowed such a print to be made and circulated. Food for thought.