Saint Casianus c. 17th century

Editor: This small etching is Jacques Callot's Saint Casianus. The scene feels chaotic, even cruel, with the saint being attacked by children. What's your take on this, what should we be seeing? Curator: It’s intense, isn't it? Callot's prints often have this theatrical violence, beautifully rendered, of course. Casianus was a schoolmaster martyred by his own students. So, the "children" are his tormentors, enacting a brutal lesson. It's Callot wrestling with faith, power, and the dark side of innocence. Gives you shivers, right? Editor: Shivers, yes! It's a really disturbing scene. Curator: Exactly, art that makes us confront uncomfortable truths.