Woman kneeling in front of magicians and other figures, from the Scherzi

Woman kneeling in front of magicians and other figures, from the Scherzi is a significant etching by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, created between 1738 and 1755. This piece belongs to the artist's celebrated series of fifteen prints known as the Scherzi di fantasia (Fantasies or Caprices), which showcase Tiepolo’s imaginative approach to esoteric subjects. Executed using the etching technique, this particular impression represents the highly desirable first state out of two, reflecting the initial, delicate handling of the plate before later additions or reworkings were implemented.

The composition centers on a solitary woman, shown kneeling, who faces a cluster of dramatic, robed figures. These figures include several men who appear to be magicians or mystic practitioners, identifiable by their flowing garments and theatrical gestures. Unlike his grand frescoes, Tiepolo utilized the constraints of printmaking to explore intimate narratives filled with architectural fragments, smoke, and enigmatic scenes involving both women and men engaged in rituals or observations. The dramatic interplay of light and shadow, characteristic of the Venetian Baroque tradition, enhances the mysterious atmosphere surrounding the central action.

Tiepolo’s Scherzi are pivotal examples of 18th-century Venetian printmaking, moving away from strict narrative illustrations toward evocative, open-ended visual puzzles. The technical execution in this print displays the artist’s characteristic spontaneity and masterful use of line. As a foundational work in the history of graphic arts, this valuable piece is now classified within the public domain, making high-quality images and prints widely available. The original print resides in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it serves as a key reference for understanding Tiepolo's expansive influence on subsequent generations of European artists.