Crow and the Snail c. 17th century

Curator: What a striking scene. This is Jacques Callot's "Crow and the Snail," currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Callot was born in 1592 and died in 1635. Editor: It feels ominous! The crow diving, the snail seemingly oblivious. Such a tiny drama playing out in this vast landscape. Curator: The crow and snail are classic symbols of the swiftness of fate versus the slow grind of everyday life. The scene seems deceptively simple, yet it taps into something fundamental about existence. Editor: Right, like a reminder that even in a beautiful landscape, there's always some kind of predator lurking, some kind of threat. It’s a bit unsettling, honestly. But beautifully rendered. Curator: Callot's technical skill brings a certain lightness to the scene, almost a whimsical quality despite the underlying tension. Editor: It's got a dark humor to it, I think. Kind of makes you want to root for the snail, though. Curator: Indeed, a universal story distilled into a miniature world. Editor: Exactly. Makes you think about the underdog—or undersnail—in your own life.