Saint Matthew c. 17th century

Curator: Jacques Callot, active in the early 17th century, created this striking print titled "Saint Matthew." Editor: It’s a bit stern, isn’t it? The hatching gives his cloak this almost metallic weight. Curator: That meticulous hatching is characteristic of Callot’s etching technique, allowing for incredible detail. Note the contrast between Matthew's rough-hewn features and the distant figures. Editor: True, there's a beautiful tension between the immediate, almost imposing figure, and the detailed narrative receding into the background. He's like a rock, weathered but resolute. Curator: Perhaps Callot aimed to show Matthew as both a steadfast apostle and an ordinary man touched by the divine. Editor: Maybe. Either way, it does spark a bit of introspection, doesn't it? It makes you wonder about the weight of belief.