Saint Aigri c. 17th century

Editor: Here we have Jacques Callot's "Saint Aigri," a small etching held at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a pretty busy scene, but something about the way the figures are placed in the landscape feels so dreamlike, almost like a memory. What stands out to you in this piece? Curator: The drama is almost theatrical, isn't it? Look at the tiny scale, yet the emotional intensity is palpable. Callot crams so much storytelling into this miniature world. Notice the delicate line work; it’s like he's whispering secrets with the needle. What do you think the bird signifies? Editor: Maybe it's a symbol of freedom or a messenger? The way it swoops down feels so purposeful. I never thought about how much detail could be packed into something so small. Curator: Exactly! It's a reminder that grand narratives can live in the smallest of spaces, like a whole world captured in a dewdrop.