Leto verandert de boeren in kikkers 1714

Claude DuBosc created this print titled 'Leto verandert de boeren in kikkers,' sometime between the late 17th and early 18th century. Here, we see Leto, the mother of Apollo and Diana, enacting divine retribution. The central motif is the transformation of rude peasants into frogs, a potent symbol of the consequences of disrespect towards the divine. This metamorphosis is not unique; it echoes transformations found in Ovid’s Metamorphoses, a text brimming with such symbolic changes. Think of Daphne turning into a laurel tree, each transformation a visual manifestation of psychological or moral states. The act of transformation, deeply rooted in the human psyche, signifies not just physical change but also profound shifts in identity and fate. Observe Leto's raised arms. This gesture, laden with emotional power, is seen across epochs, in various forms. I invite you to reflect on how the cyclical progression of symbols reflects the perpetual interplay between the past and present, shaping our collective consciousness.