Saint Procopius c. 17th century

Curator: This is Jacques Callot's "Saint Procopius," a tiny etching, barely three inches tall. What strikes you first about it? Editor: Its starkness! The high contrast gives it such a dramatic feel, like a stage set, all bold lines and shadows. Curator: Callot was a master of etching, pushing the technique to new levels. Notice the incredible detail, despite its diminutive size. It’s from a series depicting saints for the liturgical calendar. Editor: I am drawn to the layering here; the cross in the sky, the fortress walls in the distance, and then the soldiers on horseback. It really highlights the means of production. Curator: The whole scene has this air of divine drama about it. Saint Procopius is depicted on horseback, looking to the heavens, like a scene from a heroic epic. Editor: And the labor in this tiny scene! I keep imagining Callot hunched over his plate, etching each line. It’s almost devotional in its own way. Curator: It really makes you think about the connection between faith and art, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely. And the physical act of creation as a form of reverence.