Bacchanale
1897
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1897
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This sketch shows a half-naked man slumped against a rocky wall. His body is twisted, one arm dangling, the other clutching a bunch of grapes. Behind him, vines climb up the wall, heavy with fruit and leaves. The lines are loose and dark, like quick pencil strokes. The poem next to it calls him a "Satyr," a wild forest creature from old stories. The grapes and leaves suggest he’s in a wine-filled forest, maybe drunk or tired. If you like this style, look up Realism next—it focuses on everyday scenes or figures like this one.
