Apollo and Daphne
1582
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
1582
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Apollo and Daphne is a 1582 ink by Jonas Silber, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This is a black-and-white drawing of a forest scene. Trees fill most of the space, their branches twisting together. In the center, a man and a woman are caught mid-motion—he’s reaching for her, she’s turning into tree bark. The background shows buildings and hills, but the focus is on the two figures. The artist used fine lines and shading to show movement and texture. The way the woman’s body changes into leaves and roots is the most striking part. Look up engraving to see how artists like this one create detailed prints.
