Virgin and Child with Saints James and Jerome c. 17th century

Curator: This is Jacques Callot's "Virgin and Child with Saints James and Jerome," found in the Harvard Art Museums. There's a certain solemnity that emanates from it. Editor: It feels…severe, almost. All those lines, like disciplined scratches. There’s a rigidity to the figures, and a strange intensity. Curator: The linear precision is typical of Callot’s engraving style. Look at how he uses hatching to suggest volume. Saint Jerome’s lion, for instance, symbolizes his scholarly work. Editor: It does add an element of groundedness, yet the overall effect is still…austere. Maybe it’s the lack of color, or the confined composition. Curator: Perhaps it reflects the era’s religious climate, prioritizing piety and knowledge. Editor: Yes, and it makes me think about how symbols shift and resettle over time, acquiring and shedding layers of meaning. Curator: Indeed. The artwork, in its starkness, invites us to consider the weight of these enduring symbols. Editor: It certainly provides much to consider.