Frontispiece to "La saint apocatastase" c. 17th century

Editor: This is the frontispiece to "La saint apocatastase" by Jacques Callot. It's a detailed print. I'm immediately drawn to the figures flanking the text – they seem so stately. What story do you think it's trying to tell? Curator: Ah, yes, it’s a story within a story, isn't it? I see it as a theatrical proscenium, almost a stage set for divine rhetoric. Those figures are protectors of the word, and the cherubs above hint at the transformative power of scripture. The whole piece feels like a portal, inviting us into a world of theological debate. What do you make of that radiant oval at the top? Editor: It seems like a heavenly vision. I hadn't considered the "stage set" aspect; that's fascinating! Curator: Exactly! And Callot, with his magic needle, urges us to see the world as both a stage and a sacred space. Editor: I'll never look at a title page the same way again.