Nimfen en saters rond een fontein met Bacchus 1668 - 1707

Anthonie de Winter created this print, 'Nymphs and Satyrs around a Fountain with Bacchus', using etching, likely in the late 17th century. Look closely, and you’ll see a delicate network of lines. These were achieved by coating a copper plate with wax, then drawing through it with a sharp needle. The plate would then be submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed metal, leaving behind incised lines. This process could be repeated for different levels of tone. There’s a directness and intimacy to etching, quite different from engraving, which demands great strength to cut directly into the metal. Here, de Winter coaxes the medium to create light and shade in the composition. The quick, scratchy lines convey a sense of spontaneity, perfectly suited to the bacchanal scene. In this print, you see the artistry not just in the design, but also in the skillful handling of the etching process. It shows how technique and artistic expression are deeply intertwined.