Saint Titus c. 17th century

Curator: This is Jacques Callot’s "Saint Titus," a small engraving measuring just 7.6 by 4.9 centimeters, now residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Wow, even at that scale, it feels monumental. The graphic nature of the lines, the stark black and white—it’s got real presence. Almost theatrical. Curator: Callot was a master of etching and engraving, influencing many artists with his technical skill and dramatic compositions. Editor: The figures have such a unique expression, almost cartoonish—not in a bad way. Is that the Bishop giving a sermon? The people in the crowd are really captivated. Curator: Yes, the print likely served a devotional purpose. Saint Titus was an early Christian figure, a companion of Paul the Apostle. Callot's work often navigates the sacred and the profane, revealing much about the role of the church at the time. Editor: You know, it's easy to forget how much impact prints like these must have had. It's a bit like a sixteenth-century meme! Curator: Exactly! These works helped spread ideas. It gives us a peek into the ways people received and engaged with religion. Editor: It’s amazing how something so small can hold so much history, and even a little humor, honestly. Curator: It’s a reminder that art isn’t always about grand gestures. Even the smallest piece can illuminate a world.