Bacchus c. 17th century

Editor: We're looking at "Bacchus," a 17th-century etching by Stefano della Bella. It's quite small, an ink drawing of a slender, nude figure and a canine companion in a landscape. I'm immediately struck by its lightness and almost dreamlike quality, especially created by the etching technique. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Ah, Bacchus! I love how Della Bella captured a sense of revelry with such delicate lines. It's as though we've stumbled upon a Bacchanalian procession just as the sun is rising, everything still hushed and slightly blurry from the night's festivities. The slight awkwardness of the figure - a bit too slender, perhaps? - gives him a vulnerable air that's strangely endearing. Editor: Endearing? I was focusing more on the traditional depictions. How does it depart, in your view? Curator: The standard image of Bacchus is a muscular, perhaps intoxicated god. This feels like a younger, almost hesitant Bacchus, before the full embrace of hedonism. I think the Baroque era allows artists that touch, and perhaps reveals something of the artist's own temperament through it? He looks like a figure in search of the feeling we traditionally associate with Bacchus. And, that curious canine...a leopard I suppose? Editor: It definitely softens the composition, a little. That vulnerability you mentioned seems really key now. Curator: Exactly! And Della Bella leaves us with the question - how much are we like this Bacchus, seeking our own particular pleasure or delight in the world? A good piece gently pushes you to contemplate such matters. Editor: I'm beginning to think more about that canine, too - about where Bacchus finds, or shares, that vulnerability, if you see what I mean. It changes the mood entirely! Curator: Absolutely. Seeing these small details adds an additional dimension to the artwork.