Saint Pelagia c. 17th century

Editor: So, this is Jacques Callot’s “Saint Pelagia,” a tiny etching. It's so delicate! There's a real sense of drama, with the saint kneeling and the dramatic light from above. What strikes you most about it? Curator: The vulnerability, perhaps? Pelagia's story is one of transformation. Once a celebrated actress, she renounced her former life. Callot captures that profound moment, the before and after, with such economy. Notice how the discarded finery lies at her feet, a symbol of her past. Do you think that is powerful? Editor: Absolutely. The contrast is very strong. It makes you wonder what that moment of conversion felt like. Curator: Exactly! Art at its finest, I always say, is when it makes us pause, think, and then, wonder. Editor: Well, I'll definitely be pondering this one for a while!