Serpent was painted by Jacques Callot in 1628.

Where can I see Serpent?

Serpent is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Serpent?

Serpent is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Serpent

Jacques Callot , 1628

Serpent is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jacques Callot. It dates from 1628 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Serpent, an etching on laid paper created by Jacques Callot in 1628, exemplifies the artist's prolific printmaking practice, which spanned over 1,400 works documenting various aspects of 17th-century life.

Subject & Meaning

The central subject of *Serpent* is a coiled serpent navigating through water amidst varied rocks, some partially submerged. The detailed depiction, including visible scales, suggests a focus on realism within a naturalistic, possibly symbolic, context.

Technique & Style

Callot's use of etching techniques in *Serpent* achieves a profound sense of depth and texture, enhanced by the manipulation of light and shadow, characteristic of Baroque sensibilities.

History & Provenance

Created in 1628 by Jacques Callot, a renowned French Baroque printmaker from Lorraine, *Serpent* is part of a broader oeuvre that included secular, religious, and everyday life themes, often set against detailed backgrounds.

Context

*Serpent* fits within the Baroque movement's emphasis on dramatic lighting and detailed realism. Callot's work, while distinct, shares this period's artistic values, reflecting the era's diverse subject matter in printmaking.

Legacy

As part of Callot's extensive body of work, *Serpent* contributes to the artist's influence on subsequent printmaking and the documentation of Baroque-era aesthetics and themes.