Saint Julian c. 17th century

Curator: This is Jacques Callot's "Saint Julian," a small etching housed here at Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels oddly dreamlike, this little scene. Almost a mirage, with those spindly figures and the improbable camel. Curator: Callot, born in 1592, was a master of etching, and this work exemplifies his detailed technique. Notice the cross-hatching to build tone and form. Editor: The whole composition feels so light, almost ethereal. Like a half-remembered saint's day parade. Curator: Indeed. The social context of printmaking at the time allowed for wider distribution of such imagery, influencing popular devotion. Editor: It makes you wonder about the hands that held this tiny print, the stories they told around it. Curator: A testament to the power of the reproducible image, wouldn't you say? Editor: Absolutely, and to the enduring magic held within these delicate lines.