Twee piëdestallen waarvan één met Silenus op zijn ezel 1636 - 1647

Ottavio Ora created this print, “Two pedestals, one with Silenus on his donkey,” using etching techniques. Consider the figure of Silenus, often depicted as drunk and riding a donkey, his disheveled appearance a stark contrast to conventional heroic figures. Silenus was the mentor of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, fertility, theatre, and religious ecstasy. The imagery of the drunken old satyr and the youthful Bacchus reflects the dynamics of power and knowledge between old and young. We can observe how Ora’s work engages with classical forms while introducing elements that challenge and subvert traditional representations of masculinity and authority. Look at the ways in which classical forms can be reinterpreted to express complex social and personal narratives.