Apollon et Daphne

Théodore Chassériau

1844

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism Early 19th Century Allegory

About this work

This sketch shows a man and a woman in a forest. The woman is turning into tree bark, her arms stretching into branches. The man reaches for her, his face full of surprise. The trees around them are thick and tangled, with rough lines showing leaves and shadows. The artist used quick, sketchy lines to show movement and emotion. The scene looks like it’s from a story, not real life. Next, look up lithography to see how this print was made.