Apollo. Lover of Daphne 

Nicolas Poussin painted ‘Apollo. Lover of Daphne’ during the Baroque period, which was characterized by dramatic, richly detailed works. The artwork portrays a classical mythological scene, but consider how it reflects the power dynamics of Poussin’s time. The story of Apollo and Daphne is essentially one of pursuit and escape. Apollo’s desire clashes with Daphne’s fierce independence; she chooses transformation over being possessed. In the painting, Daphne metamorphoses into a tree, her agency asserted in the face of divine entitlement. I wonder, does Poussin present Daphne as a figure of triumph or tragedy? How might the gaze of a male artist affect our perception of Daphne’s choice? Poussin’s painting invites us to reflect on the costs of autonomy and how they are framed within cultural narratives.