Daphne verandert in een laurierboom 1659

Nicolaes Cornelisz. Witsen created this small print, Daphne verandert in een laurierboom, which translates to Daphne changing into a laurel tree. Made through the incisive technique of engraving, the image renders Ovid's tale of Daphne and Apollo. The stark contrast and fine lines are a direct result of the engraver's process, achieved by carefully cutting into a metal plate. The network of lines creates tone and texture, defining the figures of the fleeing Daphne and pursuing Apollo as she metamorphoses into a tree. The texture of the landscape and figures is determined by the density and direction of the engraved lines, showcasing the engraver’s skill in translating narrative into a graphic language. In the context of its time, printmaking was a crucial means of disseminating stories and images, making classical mythology accessible to a wider audience. This artwork serves as a reminder that the value of art lies not only in its subject, but also in the skilled labor and technical processes that bring it into being.