Amphion and Zethus Tying Dirce to a Wild Bull

About this work

This engraving shows a chaotic scene with five muscular men and a woman tied to a wild bull. The men are pulling ropes and wrestling, while the woman clings to the bull’s horns. One man holds a basket of tools, and another kneels nearby, looking up. The bull rears on its hind legs, adding to the drama. The whole scene is drawn with sharp lines and dark shading. The artist used fine cross-hatching to create depth and texture in the figures’ muscles and the bull’s fur. This technique makes the scene feel both dramatic and detailed. Look up engraving to see how artists like this one used lines to build shadows and movement.