Saint John the Evangelist c. 17th century

Editor: This is Jacques Callot’s "Saint John the Evangelist," a small etching. The detail is amazing, especially in the saint’s robes and the crowd in the background. What strikes me is the contrast between John’s serenity and the activity around him. What do you make of it? Curator: The etching process itself interests me. Consider the labor involved in creating such intricate lines with acid on a metal plate. The means of production were quite laborious. How do you think the availability of prints like this affected art consumption at the time? Editor: That’s fascinating! It democratized art, didn’t it? Bringing religious imagery to a wider audience. Thanks, I hadn’t considered that aspect. Curator: Exactly. It moves art beyond unique, commissioned pieces for the elite. It makes you consider the role of craft and labor.