Burning Phoenix

Jacques Callot

1628

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque

About this work

This picture shows a bird with big wings on fire, perched on a small hill. Behind it, a city burns in the distance, with smoke rising. The waves below are rough, and the sky looks stormy. The bird’s flames are the only bright spot in a dark, dramatic scene. This is an old print made by pressing ink into metal. Look up etching to see how artists like this made prints.