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Satyr and Nymph in a Swamp

Carl Wilhelm Kolbe

1794

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism 18th Century

Dominant colour

Satyr and Nymph in a Swamp is a 1794 ink by Carl Wilhelm Kolbe, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Carl Wilhelm Kolbe
When & what style?: 1794 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

In the foreground, a satyr and a nymph are depicted in a swampy setting. The satyr is shown embracing the nymph, with his arms wrapped around her waist. The nymph appears to be resisting the satyr's advances, with her arms raised in a defensive position. The scene is set amidst a dense thicket of trees and foliage, with twisted branches and gnarled trunks visible in the background. The etching technique used to create this image adds a sense of texture and depth to the scene. The intricate details of the trees and foliage are rendered in fine lines, giving the image a sense of realism. The contrast between the light and dark areas of the image adds to the overall mood of the scene. This image is reminiscent of the Romanticism movement, which emphasized emotion and the beauty of nature. To learn more about this style, explore the Romanticism movement.