Echo and Narcissus (Poussin)

Echo and Narcissus (Poussin) refers to a painting by Nicolas Poussin, a prominent French Baroque painter. The painting depicts the scene from Ovid's Metamorphoses that tells the tragic story of Echo and Narcissus.

The myth recounts that Echo, a nymph cursed to only repeat the words of others, falls in love with Narcissus, a beautiful youth known for his pride and rejection of love. She is unable to express her feelings directly, and her attempts to do so are unsuccessful, leading to her despair. Narcissus, equally incapable of love, rejects Echo's advances. As punishment for his cruelty, Nemesis, the goddess of retribution, leads Narcissus to a pool where he sees his own reflection and falls hopelessly in love with it. Unable to possess the object of his desire, Narcissus pines away and dies. Echo, witnessing his demise, also wastes away until only her voice remains.

Poussin's interpretation of the myth focuses on the psychological and emotional states of the characters, portraying them with a sense of classical restraint and idealization. The landscape often plays a significant role, reflecting the inner turmoil and fate of the figures. The painting serves as a moral allegory about the dangers of self-love, unattainable desire, and the destructive power of unrequited love. It's a significant example of Poussin's classical style and his interest in portraying moral and philosophical themes through mythological subjects. The composition, color palette, and figure poses are all meticulously crafted to convey the gravity and pathos of the narrative.