Viele Genien und Bacchanten schweben in Wolken 

Jacob de Wit rendered this watercolor and pen artwork, now at the Städel Museum, with a scene populated by frolicking cherubs and bacchanals amidst billowing clouds. Note the Bacchantes, followers of Bacchus, god of wine, theater, and religious ecstasy: the swirling drapery, the ecstatic gestures, and the presence of vine leaves—symbols of fertility and revelry. These motifs trace back to ancient Roman frescoes. The enduring symbol of Bacchus transcends eras. Consider its transformation: in medieval times, Bacchus's image was suppressed, but his essence resurfaced during the Renaissance, reborn as a symbol of humanism and earthly pleasure. The cyclical progression of symbols through time reflects the power of images to transcend cultural shifts, engaging with the viewer on a visceral, subconscious level.