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

Created in 1628, *Serpent* is an etching on laid paper by Jacques Callot, a prolific French printmaker of the early Baroque period. Measuring a modest size, the work presents a stark monochrome composition that captures a dramatic encounter between a massive snake and a coastal landscape, exemplifying Callot’s interest in narrative scenes rendered with meticulous detail.

Subject & Meaning

The composition evokes themes of danger, the sublime, and the precariousness of human presence in a hostile environment.

The image depicts a gigantic serpent coiled among rugged rocks, its head lifted as turbulent water laps the shore. Small human figures are positioned at the water’s edge, dwarfed by the creature’s enormity, suggesting a confrontation between humanity and a threatening natural force. The composition evokes themes of danger, the sublime, and the precariousness of human presence in a hostile environment.

Technique & Style

Callot employed the etching process, incising lines into a copper plate that were then transferred onto laid paper. His use of fine, incisive lines and cross‑hatching creates a sense of depth and texture, particularly in the rendering of the snake’s scales and the churning sea. The stark contrast between dark outlines and lighter areas heightens the dramatic tension of the scene.

History & Provenance

Part of Callot’s extensive output of more than a thousand prints, *Serpent* reflects his broader practice of documenting contemporary life and imaginative subjects. While the original plate’s whereabouts are undocumented, the print has circulated in several European collections since the 17th century, illustrating the enduring interest in Callot’s technical skill and narrative imagination.