Lion Calling His Cub c. 17th century

Editor: This etching by Jacques Callot, called "Lion Calling His Cub," is incredibly detailed for being so small. There's a starkness to it, almost like a stage setting. What do you make of the scene? Curator: It feels raw, doesn't it? The spindly tree, that rather emaciated lion. It's less a portrait of power, more a glimpse into the vulnerable side of nature. It makes you wonder what the lion is calling for, and what sort of world the cub will grow up in. Editor: Vulnerable, yes, exactly! I hadn't thought of it that way. Thanks for that. Curator: Gladly. Sometimes, the most powerful art is the art that knows what it is not.