Apollo en Daphne 1743

Jean Michel Liotard created this engraving, "Apollo en Daphne," portraying a scene from Ovid's Metamorphoses. The drama unfolds as Daphne transforms into a laurel tree to escape Apollo's pursuit, a narrative steeped in the complex interplay between desire, power, and transformation. Produced in the 18th century, this artwork engages with the dominant visual culture of the time, reinterpreting classical mythology through the lens of the Enlightenment. The formal elements – the dynamic composition, the attention to anatomical detail, and the use of light and shadow – all contribute to the scene's emotional intensity. The work reflects the era's fascination with classical antiquity. Examining the historical context through period texts and critical analyses, helps us appreciate how Liotard's work both embodies and questions the social and institutional norms of his time.