Apollo achtervolgt Daphne 1565 - 1611

Paulus van Wtewael made this small, oval print depicting Apollo chasing Daphne. It's an engraving, meaning that the artist would have used a tool called a burin to carve lines directly into a copper plate. The fineness of the lines and the incredible amount of detail packed into such a small space, demonstrate the engraver's skill. The textures of the figures, the landscape, and even the lettering are all created through careful manipulation of these engraved lines. Think of it as a type of labor-intensive mark-making, one that requires great concentration. Engravings like this were often made in multiples, which meant that the image could be widely distributed. This was a key technology for the circulation of ideas, as it allowed stories and images to be shared across geographical boundaries. The story depicted is from classical mythology, demonstrating the reach of classical culture during this period. It also highlights the artist's technical expertise and the cultural context in which he was working, where fine art and craft traditions were closely intertwined.