Saint Columba c. 17th century

Editor: This is Jacques Callot’s “Saint Columba,” a small engraving. There's such starkness to the image. What's happening with the saint and that bear? Curator: The chained Saint Columba, also known as Colombe of Sens, stands between a bear and a child. The bear, a common symbol of untamed nature, kneels submissively, a testament to Columba’s spiritual power. Editor: So the bear represents something tamed? Curator: Precisely. It's a visual language reflecting her triumph over earthly instincts, a symbolic representation of faith overcoming adversity. Consider how such images reinforced societal values at the time. Editor: It's amazing how much cultural weight a simple image can carry! Curator: Indeed, it reveals a continuity of symbols through time.