Huwelijk van een sater 1608 - 1650

Pierre Brebiette made this tiny print, *Huwelijk van een sater*, sometime before his death in 1642, using the exacting process of etching. The image is achieved by drawing through a wax-based ground on a metal plate, which is then exposed to acid. This bites into the metal, leaving behind an image that can be inked and printed. The material properties of the metal plate enable the fineness of line we see here, allowing for tremendous detail in this bacchanalian scene. Note the garland strung across the top of the image, the patterned garments, and the hairy legs of the satyrs. All of this is built up with careful cross-hatching. Etching was a relatively new technology at this time, associated with the rapid dissemination of images. Prints like this were often made in multiples, bound into books or sold as individual sheets, helping to spread visual ideas. So, while seemingly modest, this little print shows how skilled handwork could meet the demands of an expanding market for art. It’s a reminder that even the smallest object can have a big story to tell.