Saint Edmund of England c. 17th century

Editor: This is Jacques Callot's "Saint Edmund of England," an etching. It's quite small, only a few inches. The scene is violent - Edmund being shot - yet there's a strange serenity about the figure. What layers do you see in this depiction? Curator: The passivity is key. It speaks to the historical narrative of martyrdom but also raises questions about power, resistance, and the construction of sainthood within colonial contexts. Is Edmund a symbol of faith or a victim of political expediency? Editor: So, it's not just about religious devotion, but about how power is wielded? Curator: Exactly! This image encapsulates the complex intersections of religion, violence, and imperial control. Think about how Callot frames Edmund's quiet acceptance against the active aggression. Editor: It's a much more loaded image than I initially thought. Thank you.