1515
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Bacchanalian Scene with Satyrs and a Maenad is a 1515 ink by Master of 1515, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a wild party with blurry, drunk-looking figures. A woman in the center holds a wine jug, her hair messy, while a goat-legged guy plays a flute. Others dance or sprawl on the ground, some holding up vases or fruit. The background is just swirling lines—no clear walls or sky, just chaos. The artist used tiny parallel lines to build up dark shapes, making the scene look both rough and busy. It’s all about movement and energy, not careful details. Next, check out cross-hatching to see how artists layer lines to create depth.
This anonymous engraver signed their work with a tiny "M" inside a circle, like a secret handshake.
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