Saint Bartholomew facing right, book under his right arm, knife in his left hand, from "Christ and the Apostles" 1543 - 1553

Curator: I’m drawn to the somber tone set by the cross-hatching, which provides so much texture. It gives the work a depth that feels both weighty and spiritual. Editor: Here we have "Saint Bartholomew facing right, book under his right arm, knife in his left hand, from 'Christ and the Apostles'," created between 1543 and 1553 by Andrea Schiavone, or Andrea Meldola. It’s a print, specifically an etching. And your description resonates because it’s making me consider its creation. You see the line work and the way the light catches on the figure; it must have taken some labor and technical mastery. Curator: The knife held by Saint Bartholomew is, of course, incredibly evocative, not only as the instrument of his martyrdom—he was skinned alive, a grisly fate—but also as a symbol of sacrifice. The book under his arm tells a story of cultural memory and continuity. What knowledge does he guard, what texts preserve him and his violent ending? Editor: I can see that. Considering it as an etching though, think about how it's a reproducible medium, allowing for the wider dissemination of these iconic religious figures. What does that suggest? More people across geographic divides being made to grapple with his iconography of sacrifice? How might the original meaning change through material means of reproduction? Curator: Mass reproduction offers an opportunity to keep Saint Bartholomew’s symbolic power active. While, yes, that original meaning may evolve—shifting based on each viewer and socio-political climate, his sacrifice persists. But do we keep this image in the public eye to glorify violence, to create modern martyrs, or as a memento mori? The reading shifts constantly. Editor: Very interesting to think about, and to consider its original functionality too, the labor that went into this process and, potentially, how easily people could engage with Saint Bartholomew given the social context and location of its reproduction. The texture speaks to the hand of the artisan in reproducing this image. It is heavy—I now think in part from a sense of both literal labor and the content of violence we must now confront, even today.