Narcissus en Echo 1685 - 1735

Jan van Orley created this print, Narcissus en Echo, depicting a scene from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. The story reflects themes of desire, rejection, and transformation, resonating in a period where social roles were rigidly defined. Echo, a nymph, is visible in the top left, cursed to only repeat the words of others, hopelessly in love with Narcissus. He lies reclined, gazing at his reflection in the water, completely self-absorbed. His inability to connect with others, especially Echo, is a pointed commentary on the isolation that vanity can produce. This wasn’t just about physical beauty; it was about the gaze, about who has the power to look and who is left unseen. Van Orley’s print invites us to consider the consequences of self-obsession and the pain of unrequited love. It serves as both a moral lesson and a poignant reflection on human relationships.