Paneel met Apollo en Daphne in medaillon c. 1655 - 1657

This is Jean Lepautre’s panel depicting Apollo and Daphne in a medallion. Although the exact date of creation is unknown, it was made using etching, a popular printmaking technique during Lepautre’s lifetime in the 17th century. Here, Lepautre illustrates the Ovid myth of Apollo and Daphne, framing it within decorative motifs such as cherubs, wreaths, and lions. In Ovid’s telling, Apollo is consumed with desire for the nymph Daphne; however, she does not want him. Daphne asks her father to turn her into a laurel tree to escape Apollo’s relentless pursuit. Ovid’s text is rife with themes of sexual desire, power, and transformation. What does it mean for Daphne to escape Apollo's advances, only to become rooted to the ground? What does it mean for a woman's identity to be lost? Lepautre’s print leaves us to contemplate the emotional complexity of Ovid’s narrative.