Les Deux Turcs Coiffés d'un Turban Avec un Aigrette (Two Turks Wearing Turbans with an Egret Feather), from Varie Figure (Various Figures)
ca. 1620
Medium
Etching; first state of three (Lieure)
Dimensions
Sheet: 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (8.9 x 8.9 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Edwin De T. Bechtel, 1957
Accession Number
57.650.373(14)
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Jacques Callot, a masterful French etcher of the Baroque era, captured the exotic allure of distant cultures in *Les Deux Turcs Coés d'un Turban un Aigrette* ( Turks Wearing Turbans with an Egret Feather), from series *Varie Figure (Various Figures), around 1620. This tiny, measuring just 3½ x 3½ inches, showcases Callot's extraordinary skill in rendering intricate details on a miniature scale. As the first state of three (per Lieure cataloguing), it preserves the artist's purest lines before later editions added refinements, offering a pristine glimpse into his innovative process. Etching allowed Callot to etch fine, expressive lines into a copper plate using acid, creating a lively texture that brings these turbaned figures to life—their elaborate headdresses adorned with egret feathers evoking the splendor of the Ottoman Empire. Produced during a time when Europe was captivated by tales of Eastern opulence through trade and travelogues, the print reflects 17th-century Orientalism, blending fantasy with observed costume details. Part of Callot's *Varie Figure* series, which depicted a vibrant parade of soldiers, gypsies, and performers, it highlights his influence on printmaking, bridging art and popular culture. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art thanks to the 1957 bequest of Edwin De T. Bechtel, this gem invites visitors to marvel at how a small sheet can transport us across continents and centuries.
About the Artist
Jacques Callot · 1592–1635
Jacques Callot (1592–1635) was a French printmaker and draftsman from the Duchy of Lorraine, widely regarded as one of the first great artists to practice the graphic arts exclusively. His more than 1,400 etchings chronicled the breadth of 17th-century life, from Medici court festivities to the brutal realities of warfare. Callot revolutionized etching through technical innovations including the é...