Saint Francis Xavier c. 17th century

Curator: This is Jacques Callot's "Saint Francis Xavier," a small but potent engraving. The absence of color amplifies a feeling of austerity, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely. The image strikes me as a testament to Xavier's journeys, framed within the complex power dynamics of the early modern period. His outreach, while undeniably spiritual, was also a tool of colonial expansion. Curator: Indeed. The lilies he holds often symbolize purity, but his open hand gesturing outwards could signify his mission to spread Christianity, even as the ships in the background allude to global trade routes. Editor: The saint's halo and the radiant light suggest divine sanction. Yet, let's not forget the indigenous populations who were impacted by his work. The visual language used here very much reinforces Eurocentric values. Curator: A valuable point. The composition subtly reinforces existing hierarchies of power. Seeing it through this lens complicates our understanding. Editor: Precisely. It reminds us that even devotional images can be powerful tools reflecting a specific cultural and political agenda.