Saints James the Apostle and Christopher c. 17th century

Editor: Here we have Jacques Callot's miniature etching, Saints James the Apostle and Christopher. It's incredibly detailed for its size. What can we say about the labor involved in creating such a small, intricate print? Curator: Note the etcher's needle and the copper plate: Callot’s process, involving the *échoppe* for swelling lines, allowed for mass production. How does the print's function as a devotional object for popular consumption relate to its artisanal production? Editor: So, it’s about the accessibility of religious imagery? Curator: Precisely. This challenges any notion of unique, precious art, doesn't it? Think about who possessed these, and where. Editor: I see how the context of production gives the work new meaning. Curator: Indeed, materiality reveals the convergence of faith, labor, and commerce.