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The Fan

Jacques Callot

1619

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque

Dominant colour

The Fan is a 1619 ink by Jacques Callot, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Jacques Callot
When & what style?: 1619 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This image shows a busy, crowded scene framed like a giant fan. At the top, a city sits by a river with boats and people scattered around. Below, a huge crowd gathers near a stage where performers or speakers stand. Two large, decorative sea monsters’ heads hold up the scene at the bottom, adding a strange, fancy touch. The text at the top hints this might be a special event—maybe a parade or festival. The artist used fine lines to pack in lots of details, making it feel lively but also a little chaotic. Next, check out etching to see how artists like Callot carved these sharp, precise lines into metal plates.