De wijnpers c. 1750

Joseph Marie Vien created this etching, "De wijnpers," capturing a scene dominated by linear precision and classical motifs. The composition is strikingly horizontal, emphasizing a frieze-like arrangement of figures and objects. This layout invites the eye to traverse the scene from left to right, taking in the stages of wine production. Vien masterfully employs line to define forms and create texture, where each stroke contributes to the overall sense of depth and volume. The stark contrast between light and shadow accentuates the muscular tension of the figures operating the wine press, as well as the joyous abandon of the putti populating the scene. The materiality of the etching medium itself—the fine lines etched into the plate—mirrors the precision and order that Vien seeks to impose on his subject matter. The artwork is not just a depiction of wine-making; it is an exercise in classical ideals. It presents a structured vision of labor and celebration, bound by the formal constraints of line and composition. As such, Vien’s etching invites us to consider the ways in which art can both represent and shape our understanding of culture.