Daphne c. 1910

Bessie Potter Vonnoh made 'Daphne' out of bronze at an unknown date. It has this lovely green-y brown patina. The surface of this sculpture, it’s not just smooth and slick, right? It’s got texture, it's almost tree-like. Look at the way her dress seems to be turning into bark. Vonnoh is playing with the idea of metamorphosis, the physical transformation of Daphne from human to tree and how that change can feel as much as it looks. Think about the way the light hits that bronze, how it casts shadows in the crevices of her dress, that little space between her hands and her chest. Art’s about seeing, but it’s also about feeling. Vonnoh’s 'Daphne' shows us how vulnerability and strength can coexist, just like the rough texture and delicate form in this sculpture. It reminds me of Rodin, you know? That sense of capturing a fleeting moment, a feeling.