Fete of Pan
Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione
1648
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione
1648
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This etching shows a wild scene with a tall, skinny figure standing on a pedestal. Around it, people are tangled in vines and trees, some reaching up like they’re lost in the branches. The lines are scratchy and busy, filling every corner with swirling leaves and strange shapes. The standing figure looks like a god or spirit—maybe Pan, the goat-legged god from old stories. The messy, crowded style makes it feel like a dream or a fairy tale. Check out Baroque for more art that’s dramatic and full of movement.
