Apollo and Daphne 1665

This engraving, made by Georg Andreas Wolfgang the Elder, depicts Apollo's pursuit of Daphne, a pivotal scene from Ovid's Metamorphoses. Here, Apollo, bow in hand, reaches out, while Daphne transforms into a laurel tree, her fingers sprouting leaves. Consider the laurel: in antiquity, it was a symbol of victory, achievement, and purification. Yet, here, it represents a loss of self, a desperate escape. This motif of transformation echoes through art history, resurfacing in works like Bernini's sculpture of the same scene, where Daphne's metamorphosis is immortalized in marble. The raised hands, gestures of supplication or defense, also carry deep psychological weight. We see similar gestures in depictions of saints or figures facing divine intervention, embodying a mix of fear, awe, and surrender. Wolfgang’s engraving captures this potent blend, reminding us how symbols evolve, carrying layers of cultural memory and emotional resonance across time.