Saint Jerome in the Wilderness c. 17th century

Editor: This is Adam Perelle’s “Saint Jerome in the Wilderness,” a 17th-century print. It's so detailed and yet, it feels strangely… detached. What's your take? Curator: It's interesting you say that. Consider the context: The wilderness wasn't just physical, it was a space for challenging societal norms, even spiritual resistance. Jerome's isolation, framed within ruins, speaks to the collapse of old orders, perhaps a commentary on power structures of Perelle's time. Does that change your reading? Editor: I hadn't thought about the ruins as a symbol of societal breakdown. I was focused on the landscape. Curator: The landscape itself, though seemingly serene, is a constructed space. It’s about the tension between individual agency and social control, reflected even in the 'natural' world. Editor: So, it's less about religious devotion and more about… challenging the status quo? Curator: It's both. Jerome sought personal spiritual transformation, and that quest inevitably puts him at odds with established institutions. Editor: This gives me so much to think about. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. It's about questioning the expected and finding power in the margins.