Chloë Places a Laurel Wreath on the Head of Daphnis - Aristide Maillol

A refined woodcut illustration by Aristide Maillol, depicting a scene from the pastoral romance of Daphnis and Chloe with clean, classical lines.

This woodcut by Aristide Maillol depicts a scene from the ancient Greek pastoral romance, Daphnis and Chloe. The composition features the two titular figures, with Chloe gently placing a laurel wreath upon the head of Daphnis. A small goat stands beside them, grounding the scene in its rustic, pastoral origins. Maillol, primarily known for his sculpture, applied a similar focus on simplified, classical forms to his graphic work. The lines are clean and deliberate, avoiding unnecessary detail to focus on the essential geometry of the human figure.

Maillol produced this series of woodcuts to illustrate a limited edition of the Longus text, published by Philippe Gonin in Paris. His approach to the medium reflects a return to classical clarity, a common theme in his broader body of work. The figures possess a weight and stability that echo his three-dimensional statues, yet they remain perfectly suited to the two-dimensional constraints of the woodblock. The stark contrast between the black ink and the cream-coloured paper emphasises the purity of the line work. By stripping away extraneous ornamentation, Maillol allows the narrative gesture to remain the primary focus of the viewer. This print captures the quiet, rhythmic quality of the original text, presenting the mythological lovers with a sense of timelessness and restraint. The composition is contained within a simple square frame, which acts as a window into this idyllic, ancient world. It is a fine example of early twentieth-century book illustration, where the artist sought to harmonise the visual image with the printed word through a disciplined, reductive aesthetic.