Saint Denis and His Son c. 17th century

Editor: Here we have Jacques Callot’s small engraving, "Saint Denis and His Son." It's a rather stark image of violence. What strikes me is the evident labor involved in creating such detail at this scale. What do you see in it? Curator: I see a brutal illustration of power dynamics and the material costs of belief. Consider the copperplate itself, the labor of its creation, and its potential for mass production. How does the accessibility of such images affect their social impact, and who benefits from their circulation? Editor: So, it's not just about the religious narrative, but also about how that narrative is produced and consumed? Curator: Precisely. It's about understanding the social and economic forces at play in the creation and distribution of art, even seemingly pious art. Editor: That gives me a lot to think about. Thanks!