Second Book: Philetas Speaking to Daphnis and Chloe (Le discours de Philetas a Daphnis et Chloe) Possibly 1937

Aristide Maillol made this print, using lines to delineate a scene featuring three figures. I can imagine Maillol’s hand carefully carving away at the block, guided by a vision that’s both classical and somehow deeply personal. There’s this sense of reduction, of paring down to the essential forms. See how the scene seems to emerge from the ground of the paper, the figures defined by these crisp, clean lines? It's as though Maillol sought to capture a timeless essence, stripping away the superfluous details to reveal the core of the story. The figures have a certain weight and solidity, reflecting Maillol’s sculptural sensibility, even in this two-dimensional form. It reminds me that every artist stands on the shoulders of giants, drawing inspiration from those who came before, while simultaneously forging their own path. Painting, printing, sculpting – it's all part of this ongoing dialogue across time and space.