Satyr Driving a Pair of Goats

About this work

Pierre Brebiette carved a grinning satyr driving two shaggy goats in 1626. The satyr holds the reins like a charioteer, goats straining forward. His horns curl against the sky, and the whole scene looks like a rowdy cart ride through ancient hills. This isn’t just a myth scene. It mixes fun with skill: Brebiette used etching to scratch fine lines on metal, then inked the plate and pressed paper against it. The paper’s bumpy surface shows tiny white flecks where the ink caught the grain. Look for the rougher lines in the goats’ coats—drypoint. The National Gallery of Art, Washington has this print in its European works.