Bal des Ardents 1731

"Bal des Ardents" is an etching by Bernard Picart depicting a historical event known as the "Dance of the Burning Men," a medieval courtly entertainment gone wrong. The artwork depicts a group of men dressed in flammable materials who caught fire at the dance, resulting in a tragic accident. The etching, dated 1731, provides a detailed and graphic illustration of the event, capturing the horror and chaos of the situation. This piece is currently housed in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, and measures 127 mm in height and 75 mm in width. The artwork's composition uses dark shading and detailed lines to convey the intensity of the scene.