Plate 20: two figures composed of pipes and sieves from 'Bizzarie di varie figure' 1624

Giovanni Battista Bracelli created this etching, ‘Two Figures Composed of Pipes and Sieves,’ around 1624 in Italy as part of his series 'Bizzarie di varie figure'. It presents us with an intriguing puzzle, asking: what is the public role of the arts? The series title translates to ‘Various Bizarre Figures,’ and Bracelli certainly delivers, assembling human-like forms from everyday objects. These aren't portraits of individuals but rather playful constructions. The artist worked in a period when art academies across Europe were formalizing their standards. Where artists were encouraged to elevate subject matter, Bracelli instead embraced the eccentric and challenged these established artistic conventions. To understand Bracelli's motives, we might look at period writings on art theory or examine the output of academies. This etching encourages us to reflect on the social forces that determine what is considered art and who gets to decide.