Fotoreproductie van een schilderij, voorstellende een processie met de jonge Bacchus before 1888

This photogravure captures a painting of a procession with the young Bacchus, likely produced to illustrate a book. Bacchus, the god of wine, fertility, and theatre, is surrounded by his ecstatic followers, the Bacchantes, in a joyful, frenzied dance. Note the thyrsus, the Bacchantes' staff topped with a pine cone, a symbol of prosperity and pleasure. This echoes back to ancient Greece. But observe how these motifs reappear throughout history, evolving yet retaining their core essence. The ecstatic dance, a symbol of liberation and release, also appears in Renaissance paintings, such as Titian’s "Bacchus and Ariadne", where the god's frenzied energy is palpable. We see it again in modern rave culture, where dance becomes a form of collective euphoria. The image of Bacchus and his procession taps into our collective memory of revelry and abandon, a powerful force engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. This symbol, like many, reveals a non-linear, cyclical progression, resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings across time.