Saint Prisqua c. 17th century

Editor: This etching is called "Saint Prisqua," by Jacques Callot. She's framed in an oval with a lion at her feet and what looks like a beheading in the background. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Callot’s Saint Prisqua reflects the socio-political dynamics of 17th-century religious imagery. Note the inscription "Israel ex" suggesting the print was distributed widely, contributing to the public veneration and political symbol of the saint. What does her presence, juxtaposed with violence, suggest about the period's societal anxieties? Editor: I hadn't considered how its accessibility would shape its message and the saint's image. It is like propaganda. Curator: Precisely. Art is not created in a vacuum. Considering these factors gives us deeper insight into the power of imagery within its historical context.