Triumph of Bacchus 1610 - 1642

Pierre Brebiette made this print, "Triumph of Bacchus," sometime in the 17th century using the etching technique. The design is bitten into a metal plate with acid, then printed – a mechanical process allowing for widespread distribution of images. Look closely, and you can see how the etched lines define the forms, creating a rich, almost feverish density of texture. This effect is heightened by the subject matter: a riotous procession honoring Bacchus, the god of wine, fertility, and theatre. The scene is teeming with figures – satyrs, nymphs, animals both real and fantastical. It’s a controlled frenzy, made all the more potent by the precision of the line work. Brebiette’s choice of etching as a medium reflects a changing landscape in the art world. Prints allowed artists to circulate their ideas, reaching a broader audience beyond the elite circles of painting and sculpture, and to participate in a developing market for images. In that context, a print like this one is not just a work of art, but an artifact of its time.