The Bodies of Saints Peter and Paul c. 17th century

Editor: So, this is Claude Vignon's "The Bodies of Saints Peter and Paul," located at the Harvard Art Museums. It's an etching, and the rough lines create a somber mood. What strikes you about the piece? Curator: Notice the heavy emphasis on line work. Vignon’s manipulation of the etching process, the very means of production, becomes central. What impact do you think this focus on the materiality of the piece has on its interpretation? Editor: I hadn't considered that. It makes me think more about the labor that went into making it, rather than just the religious subject matter. Curator: Precisely! The roughness disrupts any idealized vision, grounding the saints in a tangible, almost brutal reality. This challenges traditional boundaries between high art and craft. Food for thought! Editor: Absolutely. I'll definitely look at etchings differently now.