Martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew c. 17th century

Curator: This etching, "Martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew," is by Jacques Callot. Its minute size, just 7.3 by 4.6 cm, belies the epic scene depicted. Editor: It's incredibly unsettling. The figures are so small, yet the violence feels immense. The saint's figure is being flayed, a raw and terrible image. Curator: Callot was working during a period of intense religious conflict. Representations of martyrdom were very common, used to inspire and also to warn against heresy. Editor: The symbol of the flaying knife becomes a stark reminder of faith's brutal consequences. It speaks to the power of belief and the lengths people will go. Curator: Indeed, the image emphasizes both the physical suffering and the perceived triumph of faith over earthly torment, a powerful message in Callot’s time. Editor: It makes me wonder, what did viewers at the time make of such graphic imagery? Curator: That’s a key question when thinking about the social function of art. Editor: It's fascinating how such a small work can carry such enormous symbolic weight.