Dansende nimfen en saters in een landschap 1608 - 1650

Pierre Brebiette made this etching of dancing nymphs and satyrs in a landscape sometime in the early to mid-17th century. The scene depicts a bacchanal, or a wild celebration of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, fertility, and theatre. These kinds of scenes were popular in Brebiette’s time, especially in France. They reflect a culture in which aristocratic society, under the influence of the royal court, reveled in displays of wealth, power, and pleasure. The Roman gods and mythological figures stood for certain values that were considered desirable at the time, such as beauty, love, and abundance. In the 17th century, academies of art were just beginning to standardize the style of art production and the taste of art consumers. The sensuality of this image suggests a playful attitude toward the classical style being promoted through institutional channels. To know more, one could research the history of the French court, the status of academies, and the classical tradition in art. We can then appreciate how art shapes—and is shaped by—its cultural moment.