Orpheus Killed by the Bacchantes 1724

Curator: This engraving, attributed to Bernard Picart, made sometime between 1696 and 1733, depicts "Orpheus Killed by the Bacchantes." Editor: My first thought is: violence. The frenzied energy of the Bacchantes is vividly captured through the dynamic lines and chaotic composition. Curator: Indeed, the print illustrates a critical episode from Ovid's *Metamorphoses,* reflecting shifting social attitudes towards religious ecstasy and communal ritual in the early 18th century. Editor: The contrast between the calm foreground figures and the swirling chaos behind creates a compelling tension. Note the meticulous detail in the rendering of the figures. Curator: The print served a didactic function, intended to circulate moral and historical narratives to a wider audience. It also reveals the influence of classical art. Editor: Absolutely. The diagonal line composition draws the eye from the repose in the foreground through the frenzy in the back. Curator: Examining this work in a broader historical context helps reveal shifting attitudes to art in society. Editor: And close visual analysis can reveal the artist's command of line, form, and composition.