Saint Polychronius

Editor: Here we have Jacques Callot's "Saint Polychronius," an etching. It's small, only a few inches, but the violence depicted is striking. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Callot made many prints that were collected into series. We need to ask what was the purpose of this set of prints. What do we know about the audience for these images? Editor: That makes sense. I hadn't considered the prints as part of a larger social context. Curator: Exactly. How do you think these prints functioned within religious or political dialogues of the time? Editor: I'll have to look into that! Curator: Remember to examine the public role of such art in society.