Geboorte van Bacchus 1786 - 1808

Curator: The scene we're looking at is "The Birth of Bacchus" created between 1786 and 1808 by Jean Dambrun. It's a print, made using etching and engraving, after a painting by Nicolas Poussin. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by its theatrical composition and, in contrast, the apparent classical coolness. Everyone is draped, reclining, gesturing – like figures arranged for a tableau vivant. The idealized nudes are, well, neoclassical. Curator: The work reflects a significant cultural moment – the rise of Neoclassicism. You see that embrace of classical forms and narratives emerging out of the enlightenment with a reinterpretation of mythological subjects through, what we see as modern eyes. Editor: The birth of Bacchus itself, as a story, carries significant weight. Born from Jupiter’s thigh, escaping Hera's jealousy, sheltered by nymphs...it speaks to resilience, survival, and a re-imagining of traditional narratives. There are multiple layers of female care here which, considering the political and gendered context of the late 18th century, could challenge accepted assumptions. Curator: That's interesting – you point to the subtle challenge to power structures through depicting a birth in mythological narratives. The use of idealized nudes is of course a key visual device too that invites contemplation, although in different times than when this artwork was new. Editor: Indeed, the bodies—arranged just so and displayed against lush scenery—demonstrate ownership of the mythological narrative for its wealthy consumers. The piece then takes on a new layer through Dambrun’s etching, it goes from Poussin’s classical subject to an invitation for ownership. The act of reproducing art became a way to circulate cultural capital. Curator: The original, by Nicolas Poussin, was already functioning within court circles as a symbol of refinement and power. Dambrun’s print makes that statement portable and distributable among an expanding consumer class with similar political views. The print becomes enmeshed in socioeconomic conditions. Editor: This print invites us to reflect on what we consider radical as history shifts. Here, a birthing scene amongst the Gods and Goddesses is reproduced by men who reinforce status. What seemed avant-garde and a step in thinking about life became itself another steppingstone, this time of elitist ideologies. Curator: A perspective worth embracing. Looking closer, one might see more, think harder, about representation across gender and societal layers—then, and now.