Dueler with Sword and Dagger 1616

Editor: Here we have Jacques Callot's "Dueler with Sword and Dagger." It's a small etching, quite humorous, I think. What strikes you about it? Curator: Oh, he's got such swagger, hasn't he? All puffed up and ready for a fight, though maybe not a very elegant one. I wonder if Callot’s poking fun at the bravado of the era? You almost expect him to trip. Editor: I hadn't thought of that, the humor being intentional. It does seem like he's about to lose his balance. Curator: And that's the fun of it, isn't it? It's a tiny drama, full of potential for absurdity. Made me think of a cartoon. Editor: Definitely changes how I see it. Thanks!