Apollo and Daphne c. 19th century

Curator: Théodore Chassériau's "Apollo and Daphne" offers a lithographic interpretation of the classic myth. The original artwork can be found here at Harvard Art Museums. Editor: I feel Daphne's desperation – the frantic energy as she transforms, trying to escape Apollo's grasp. You can almost hear the rustling of the leaves. Curator: Lithography, as a printing process, enabled the wider circulation of such narratives, thus democratizing access to classical themes. We should remember how such myths were consumed! Editor: The texture created by the lithographic crayon gives it a certain ethereal quality, almost like a dream. It is really beautiful, perhaps hinting at a deeper sense of transformation? Curator: Precisely. Examining such prints helps us understand 19th-century visual culture and the dissemination of classical stories to a broader public. Editor: It's a reminder that even in mythology, there's always a material reality shaping the story. I love seeing how the myth comes to life.