Bacchanal 1615 - 1642

This is an engraving of a Bacchanal, made by Pierre Brebiette, a French artist born in the late 16th century. It’s made by incising lines into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed onto paper, a process that requires precision and skill. The material quality of the print, its lines and shading, directly informs the artwork’s appearance, giving it a graphic intensity and textural richness. The process has imbued the artwork with cultural significance, reflecting the values and beliefs of the society in which it was created. Brebiette was engaging with the skilled traditions of printmaking. The production of engravings like this depended on a whole system of labor. From the mining of metals, to the skilled artisans who made the tools used to create the printing plates, to the pressmen who printed the final image. Paying attention to materials, making, and context allows us to understand the full meaning of an artwork, challenging the distinctions between fine art and craft.