Saint Sebastian 1729 - 1742

Editor: So, this print is called "Saint Sebastian" by A. Claude Philippe de Thubières comte de Caylus. It looks like an etching, maybe in sepia ink? There's a lot of movement, and it feels… theatrical, almost. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Theatrics, yes! Caylus, you see, was fascinated by the stage. But beyond that, this print is interesting because it's not just *of* Saint Sebastian, it's about our *relationship* to suffering. Notice how Sebastian isn't alone. We, the viewers, are invited into this intimate moment of care, almost voyeuristically. Do you find that troubling? Editor: A little bit, yeah. It’s like rubbernecking at a car crash, but in art. Curator: Exactly! Caylus forces us to confront our own complicity in witnessing pain. The soft sepia, for me, doesn't soften the blow, but adds an elegiac tone. Editor: That's a new way to think about it. Thanks. Curator: My pleasure. It's all about finding your own emotional truth within the art, right?