Daphne Turning to a Laurel 1665

"Daphne Turning to a Laurel" (1665) is an etching by the German Baroque artist Georg Andreas Wolfgang the Elder. The print depicts the Greek myth of Daphne, a nymph who is pursued by the god Apollo. To escape Apollo’s advances, Daphne pleads to her father, the river god Peneus, to change her form, and he transforms her into a laurel tree. The print depicts Daphne as she transforms, with her lower body already taking on the form of a tree. Apollo, depicted in the background, watches with a bow and arrow in hand. Wolfgang’s print is characterized by its detailed, dramatic composition, and its use of light and shadow to create a sense of depth and atmosphere. The print is a testament to the lasting power of classical mythology in the European art world.