Fourth Book: Daphnis and Chloe Lying Together, Second Variant (Daphnis et Chloe couches ensemble, deuxieme variante) Possibly 1937

Aristide Maillol rendered this image of Daphnis and Chloe using an unknown medium. Maillol, working in France during a period of significant social and artistic change, engages classical themes through a modern lens. Here, Maillol revisits Longus’s narrative of same-sex love in the idyllic setting of ancient Greece. The figures, intertwined in a tender embrace, challenge conventional representations of gender and sexuality. Their physical closeness speaks to an intimacy that transcends societal norms, offering a vision of love that is both vulnerable and powerful. Maillol’s artistic choices, characterized by simplified forms and an emphasis on the body’s natural curves, serve to elevate the emotional resonance of the scene. The artwork invites us to contemplate the complexities of human connection. It asks us to consider how love and desire can disrupt and redefine the boundaries of identity.