Woman and infant satyr in a landscape, the woman twisting to look over her left shoulder, a horned goat striding toward the background, from "The Capricci"

"Woman and infant satyr in a landscape, the woman twisting to look over her left shoulder, a horned goat striding toward the background, from "The Capricci"" is an exceptional etching created by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo between 1740 and 1742. This work is a crucial component of his seminal series of prints, known as The Capricci, which marked a significant period in the Venetian artist's exploration of the etching medium. These compositions, characteristic of the 18th-century capriccio genre, intentionally blend classical ruins, mythological figures, and pastoral elements to create dreamlike, non-narrative scenes.

The composition centers on a female figure, shown mid-twist as she looks backward, accompanied by a small, lively infant satyr who embodies the theme of untamed nature. The inclusion of the prominent horned goat striding toward the background deepens the sense of the uncanny, mixing mythological creatures with everyday life. Tiepolo’s masterful technique utilizes the etching needle to achieve rich contrasts between dark shadow and brilliant light, defining the texture of the fabric and the craggy landscape through sophisticated cross-hatching. Unlike his monumental fresco cycles, Tiepolo used these smaller print formats to explore subjects bordering on the surreal, focusing intensely on dramatic chiaroscuro and complex figure arrangements.

Dating from the early 1740s, this print exemplifies the aesthetic precision of the Venetian Rococo while showcasing Tiepolo's profound technical skill in printmaking. This impression of the piece, often simply referred to as The Capricci, is preserved within the esteemed collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it serves as a primary example of Tiepolo's significant contributions to the art of the etching and the development of the capriccio genre.