Saint Optatus c. 17th century

Editor: Here we have Jacques Callot’s small engraving, *Saint Optatus*. The fine lines create a sense of depth and texture. What strikes me is the Bishop's clothing; how does the materiality of the cloth inform the work's meaning? Curator: It's intriguing to consider Callot's choice of engraving, a printmaking technique that inherently involves labor and reproducibility. The image becomes less about singular divine inspiration and more about the material process of creation and potential for wider dissemination. What does the mass production of such an image mean for religious authority? Editor: So, the act of creating multiple copies changes its significance? Curator: Exactly. Think about the social context: prints like these were commodities. Callot wasn't just depicting a saint; he was producing objects for consumption. It shifts our focus from the spiritual to the material. Editor: That makes me see the piece in a completely new light!