Engelen bezoeken H. Bruno in zijn droom c. 1676

This etching, "Engelen bezoeken H. Bruno in zijn droom," was created by François Chauveau around the mid-17th century and is held at the Rijksmuseum. A dreamy landscape unfolds with figures draped in classical poses. A satyr drinks from a horn on the left, while nymphs and cherubic figures recline amidst lush vegetation. The composition guides our gaze through a series of interconnected forms. Notice how the figures create a flowing rhythm from left to right, stabilized by the rocky landscape in the background. Chauveau uses light and shadow to define the forms, adding depth and volume to the scene. The artist seems to question the boundaries between the sacred and the profane. How do the figures disrupt traditional religious narratives? The erotic and bacchanalian elements are in stark contrast to the divine intervention suggested in the title. It invites us to consider how established meanings are destabilized through the interplay of form, content, and cultural codes.