Saint Dumpna c. 17th century

Editor: This small etching, Saint Dumpna by Jacques Callot, depicts a rather grim scene. It seems to capture a moment of violence. How can we interpret this work within its historical context? Curator: The violence is key. Callot, working in the 17th century, presents us with more than just a saint's martyrdom. Consider the power dynamics at play: a king, wielding a sword, poised over a kneeling woman. It speaks to the period's anxieties around female agency, religious authority, and the ever-present threat of patriarchal violence. Editor: So, it is a story about power and gender? Curator: Precisely. Think about how the image resonates even today, with ongoing struggles against gender-based violence and the fight for female autonomy. What do you think about the artist's choice to depict it in an oval frame? Editor: I never considered the frame. It seems to contain the rage but also amplify the importance of the central figures. Thanks. Curator: It is powerful how such a small image carries so much weight, isn't it?