Landschap met Byblis en Caunus 1683 - 1733

Bernard Picart created this print, Landschap met Byblis en Caunus, in the late 17th or early 18th century using etching. Picart was working in a Dutch Republic that was a center for artistic innovation, but also deeply engaged with classical and mythological themes. This print depicts a tragic scene from Ovid’s *Metamorphoses*, the tale of Byblis and her unrequited and taboo love for her twin brother, Caunus. Picart captures the moment of high drama, the figures frozen in a tableau of desperation and rejection. Byblis embraces her brother who is pulling away from her. The landscape is not merely a backdrop but an active participant in the drama. It’s a space where personal tragedy unfolds against a backdrop of natural beauty, underscoring the isolation and intensity of Byblis's emotions. Her tears, according to Ovid, transform her into a spring. Through Picart's delicate lines, we are invited to reflect on the complexities of desire, identity, and the destructive power of forbidden love.