La Revue c. 17th century

Editor: Here we have Jacques Callot's "La Revue," an etching. It depicts a military gathering and feels incredibly detailed, almost like a bird's-eye view. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: This print offers a glimpse into 17th-century militarism, but through whose eyes are we seeing it? Callot's meticulous detail normalizes the spectacle of power. Consider how the print may sanitize or even glorify military strength, obscuring the realities of conflict and its impact on marginalized communities. How does the composition influence your reading? Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. The orderliness definitely seemed celebratory, but maybe there's a critique hidden within the detail. Curator: Precisely. Art often speaks in layers.