Saint Evaristus c. 17th century

Curator: This is Jacques Callot's "Saint Evaristus," a small etching now residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's stark, almost austere. The figure seems frail, yet there's a quiet defiance in the upward tilt of his head. Curator: Callot was a master of etching, and you can see his skill in the precise lines that define the saint's garments and the landscape. Consider the materials he had available and the labor involved in creating such detail on such a small scale. Editor: The sword at his feet suggests martyrdom, a common narrative for early popes. But the palm frond also hints at triumph, a complex portrayal of power, faith and sacrifice. How did such imagery reinforce or challenge social hierarchies of the period? Curator: Exactly, the printmaking process itself allowed for wider distribution, a democratization of religious imagery. Editor: Ultimately, it's a piece that invites us to consider how power is constructed and contested, even in the smallest of formats. Curator: It reminds us that even in apparent simplicity, there is an immense amount of skill and meaning embedded within the artwork.