Daphne in het water 1788

"Daphne in het water" is an etching created by Louis Michel Halbou in 1788. The print depicts a scene from Ovid's Metamorphoses, where the nymph Daphne, pursued by the god Apollo, transforms into a laurel tree. The composition shows Daphne's figure partly submerged in water, while Apollo sits on a rock, observing her transformation. Halbou's masterful use of line and shading conveys the drama and pathos of the scene. The print, measuring 278 mm by 210 mm, is an excellent example of neoclassical engraving, characterized by its clarity and precision.