ΦΑΙΝΟΜΑΙ ΑΠΝΟΥΣ (I Seem to Be Breathless) 1784

Henry Tresham created this print, "ΦΑΙΝΟΜΑΙ ΑΠΝΟΥΣ (I Seem to Be Breathless)," using etching and aquatint. The image evokes classical themes through its depiction of a reclining woman with a lyre, set against a landscape with slender trees and distant monuments. This work reflects the late 18th-century fascination with ancient Greece, a period when archaeological discoveries fueled a desire to recreate idealized versions of the past. Figures were often styled after ancient sculptures and architecture. The title, in Greek, suggests a deeper engagement with classical learning. Britain's artistic institutions played a crucial role in promoting these styles, academies encouraged artists to study classical forms and history. By studying prints like these, alongside historical texts and artistic treatises, we can better understand how artists engaged with their cultural heritage.