Saint Apollonia c. 17th century

Curator: Jacques Callot's small etching, "Saint Apollonia", depicts the saint's martyrdom. It’s only about 7 by 5 centimeters. Editor: It’s brutal, isn’t it? That torturer with his menacing pliers...but there’s a strange stillness, almost a theatrical quality. Curator: Callot, active in the early 17th century, was a master of etching. Note the incredible detail he achieves in such a small format. Consider how this print might have been circulated, consumed, and understood in its time. Editor: I see a strange beauty even in the horror. Apollonia’s serenity, set against the man's grim determination… it's haunting. Almost like a dream you can't shake off. Curator: Precisely. Callot’s technical skill combined with the subject matter tells us a lot about the religious and social climate of the period. Editor: That’s true. It’s a tiny window into a very different world, isn’t it? Still makes me squirm, though.