Pride c. 17th century

Editor: This etching, "Pride" by Jacques Callot, shows a woman with a peacock and even a devilish figure above her! It feels like a moralizing image, but I wonder, how does this depiction of pride connect to its historical context? Curator: It’s fascinating how Callot uses visual allegory to critique social norms. The peacock, traditionally a symbol of vanity, is paired with a figure of nobility. How might this image function as a form of social commentary on the aristocracy? Editor: So, it's not just about individual vanity, but perhaps about the pride of a social class? Curator: Precisely. Consider how such imagery may have been received and circulated in its time, and who it may have been intended to influence. Editor: I never thought about it that way! Seeing it as a commentary on social structures really changes the meaning for me.