Holy Family with Saint John c. 17th century

Curator: This is Jacques Callot's "Holy Family with Saint John," a small but intricate engraving dating back to the early 17th century. Editor: It's like stepping into a dream! The delicate lines create this ethereal, otherworldly glow. It feels very intimate, despite the formal subject. Curator: Callot was a master of printmaking, and the piece reflects the Catholic Counter-Reformation and its emphasis on piety and the Holy Family as a domestic ideal. It reinforces the importance of faith amid social change. Editor: I get that. But I'm also struck by the humanity—the softness in Mary's gaze, the way the children reach for each other. It makes the divine seem so accessible. Curator: Yes, and the inclusion of Saint John highlights the importance of lineage and prophecy. These religious and patriarchal narratives should also invite critique, no? Editor: Absolutely! But for me, it’s a reminder of how artists can imbue even the most rigid structures with genuine emotion. Thanks for letting me see it that way.