Ontwerp voor een schenkkan met Apollo en Marsyas 1846

Ludwig Epple designed this pitcher with pencil and watercolor, presenting the mythological figures Apollo and Marsyas. In this design, Epple grapples with themes of power, artistic hubris, and punishment. The myth of Apollo and Marsyas is one of cultural and racial conflict; Apollo, the god of music, challenges Marsyas, a satyr, to a musical contest. When Apollo wins, he flays Marsyas alive for daring to challenge a god. The story can be interpreted as a cautionary tale against challenging authority. It also echoes the historical subjugation of marginalized voices by dominant cultural narratives. Epple’s choice to depict this myth is a reflection of a desire to portray the cultural dominance of Western artistic traditions. By revisiting this classical subject, Epple engages with questions of cultural identity, power dynamics, and the complex legacy of classical art. The design invites us to consider who gets to tell stories and whose voices are silenced.