Damon en Daphne 1771

"Damon en Daphne" (1771) is an etching by German artist Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki (1726-1801) and is now housed in the Rijksmuseum. The artwork depicts a scene from Ovid's "Metamorphoses", where the shepherd Damon points out a rainbow to his beloved, Daphne, who is about to be transformed into a laurel tree. Chodowiecki's detailed engraving, with its delicate lines and contrasting light and shadow, exemplifies the Rococo style's emphasis on elegance and sentimentality, popular in 18th century Europe.