Second Book: Daphnis and Chloe Sitting Close Together (Daphnis et Chloe assis sous unchene et s'embrassant) Possibly 1937

Curator: This lovely woodcut, and possibly also engraving, is attributed to Aristide Maillol, and is titled "Second Book: Daphnis and Chloe Sitting Close Together". Scholars believe it was created around 1937. Editor: Mmm, that orangey-red against the pale paper—it's almost terracotta, like ancient pottery. It gives this image of embracing lovers such an intimate and nostalgic feel. The style feels almost childlike, innocent. Curator: Absolutely. It brings to mind Arcadian ideals and classical mythology, especially with the positioning of the figures beneath a large tree, a sort of safe and natural refuge. These scenes echo those from the novel Daphnis and Chloe. They're always seeking sanctuary from prying eyes. Editor: What strikes me is the repeated line work... There's something quite soothing about that simple hatching effect—it emphasizes form while softening the mood and keeping it from becoming too, shall we say, *bold*. Even the slightly awkward framing gives a certain primitive, honest impression. Curator: Indeed. These repeated patterns are critical, forming a language rooted in our shared past. Woodcuts themselves, in the history of printed images, democratized image consumption for common people for the first time, after centuries in which that experience was reserved only for a privileged few. Think of how revolutionary that shift was. Editor: Makes me wonder about the "second book" implied in the title...Was this a specific moment pulled from a longer narrative? I suppose a little context amplifies the intensity of this sweet image—almost as if we're intruding upon this very private and sheltered embrace. Curator: Exactly! Each book in this suite builds and expands upon themes and imagery of previous works, adding further layers of meaning, turning a seemingly self-contained image into part of a much richer tapestry of classical knowledge. It creates an extended meditation. Editor: Well, I know that when I look at this, I think more about how that embrace feels than how it appears—so thank you for bringing a deeper meaning to the foreground! Curator: The pleasure has been mine!