Bal des Ardents 1731

comic strip sketch

mechanical pen drawing

pen illustration

pen sketch

old engraving style

personal sketchbook

sketchwork

pen-ink sketch

pen work

storyboard and sketchbook work

"Bal des Ardents," an etching by Dutch artist Bernard Picart, depicts a scene of chaos and horror. Created in 1731, the image memorializes the tragic "Dance of the Faggots" from 1393, a festive procession in Paris where participants were engulfed in flames. Picart's work portrays a crowd of figures, with some fleeing in terror as others writhe in agony, engulfed by fire. The etching's dramatic composition and meticulous detail serve as a chilling reminder of this devastating event.