Apollo doorschiet Coronis met een pijl 1706 - 1754

Jacob de Wit created this drawing, "Apollo doorschiet Coronis met een pijl," employing a monochrome wash technique that lends a sense of drama to the scene. The composition is dynamic: Apollo is in mid-motion, bow drawn, while Coronis lies recumbent, framed by the natural architecture of trees and rocks. De Wit uses light and shadow to articulate form, creating depth. Note how the texture of the foliage and the rough bark of the trees contrast with the smooth skin of the figures, a juxtaposition that intensifies the visual experience. The arrow, the focal point of the narrative, pierces the calm of the idyllic setting, introducing a rupture in the visual field that mirrors the tragic turn in the story. This rupture challenges the viewer's expectations. De Wit invites us to contemplate not just the beauty of the classical form but also the destabilizing force of divine intervention in human affairs.