Narcissus and Echo

Art Historical Context

In the captivating etching *Narcissus and Echo*, created in the 17th by Dutch artist Frans van der Neve and published by Italian engraver Giovanni Giacomo De Rossi visitors encounter a dramatic retelling of the ancient Greek myth. Narcissus, entranced by his own reflection in a pool, ignores the nymph Echo, who fades away from unrequited love, her voice lingering as a faint echo. This Baroque-era print masterfully captures the tension between vanity and longing, themes that resonated deeply in an age obsessed with illusion and human emotion. Etching, the medium here, allowed for intricate lines and tonal depth through acid-bitten copper plates, making complex mythological scenes accessible beyond paintings. At 12 3/8 × 15 7/16 inches (trimmed), this sheet exemplifies how prints democratized art, circulating stories from Ovid's *Metamorphoses* across Europe. De Rossi's Roman workshop was renowned for such reproductive prints, bridging Northern and Southern European styles. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, thanks to The Elisha Whittelsey Collection (1951), this work invites reflection on self-absorption in our mirror-filled world—much like Narcissus gazing eternally into the water.

About the Artist

Frans van der Neve|Giovanni Giacomo De Rossi (Flemish|Italian) · 1606 |1627 –1688 |1691

Flemish, Antwerp 1606–after 1688 Salzburg, Austria (?)|Italian, Rome 1627–1691 Rome