Witches' Sabbath 1640s

Salvator Rosa created "Witches' Sabbath," a pen and brown ink drawing, sometime in the 17th century, and now it resides at The Met. The immediate impression is one of frenetic energy. Rosa’s use of line is incredibly dynamic; the composition seems almost to vibrate with dark, rapid strokes. The figures are rendered with a sense of grotesque exaggeration, their forms twisted and contorted. Look at how the figures are stacked atop one another, creating a sense of instability and chaos. The hatching and cross-hatching add depth and shadow, enhancing the nightmarish quality of the scene. There is a visual tension here, the drama of the grotesque. This piece isn't just a depiction; it's an active disruption of classical ideals. The form itself mirrors the content, challenging the viewer with its raw, unsettling energy. Rosa uses form not just to represent but to embody a sense of chaotic freedom.