Syrinx werpt zich in het riet tijdens haar vlucht voor Pan - Aristide Maillol

A refined woodcut by Aristide Maillol depicting the mythological nymph Syrinx, rendered with clean lines and a focus on simplified, monumental form.

This woodcut by Aristide Maillol depicts the mythological figure of Syrinx as she seeks refuge within a bed of reeds to escape the pursuit of Pan. Maillol, primarily known for his sculptural work, applied a similar focus on simplified, monumental form to his graphic output. The composition is contained within a strict square frame, which contrasts with the organic, flowing lines of the figure and the surrounding flora.

The artist employs a clean, reductive approach to the woodcut medium. By stripping away unnecessary detail, Maillol directs attention to the posture of the figure. The lines are deliberate and steady, creating a sense of stillness despite the narrative context of flight. The reeds are rendered as vertical elements that break the horizontal plane of the water, providing a structural rhythm to the scene. This work was produced as an illustration for Ovid's Metamorphoses, a project that occupied Maillol for several years during the 1920s.

Maillol's graphic style in this period reflects his interest in classical themes filtered through a modern sensibility. He avoids decorative excess, preferring instead to communicate the essence of the myth through clear, bold contours. The interaction between the human form and the natural environment is handled with a focus on balance and proportion. The print demonstrates the artist's ability to translate the weight and volume of his three-dimensional sculptures into the two-dimensional plane of the woodblock. The result is a work that possesses a quiet, meditative quality, characteristic of his broader artistic output during the early twentieth century.