Saint Pulcheria c. 17th century

Editor: Here we have Jacques Callot's "Saint Pulcheria," a small etching. The detail is incredible for its size. What strikes me is how the lines create texture – how do you read this piece? Curator: Consider the etching process itself: the labor, the tools. Callot, a master printmaker, used metal and acid. The lines aren't just descriptive; they embody the production. How does this reproducible image function in the marketplace of devotional objects? Editor: So, less about the Saint and more about how the image was made and consumed? I hadn't thought of that. Curator: Exactly! It prompts us to question the distinction between art and craft, sacred and secular. Editor: It certainly changes my view. Thanks! Curator: Indeed, understanding production unlocks new avenues for interpretation.