Jess, cloudbusting

“Christine de Pizan was a vocal critic of the popular medieval poem, Le Roman de la Rose, which satirized courtly love. In it, women were reduced to seducers and men were encouraged to resort to force to have their conquests.

When retelling the story of Daphne and Apollo, Christine focused on a way to take a traditionally sexually charged story and instead focus it on a woman's virtue.

The myth explains the origin of the laurel tree.

Depictions typically show Apollo, god of love, in pursuit of Daphne, a nymph, as she flees his advances to preserve her virginity. Daphne prays for aid and is turned into a laurel tree as Apollo seizes her.

The image that accompanied Christine's version takes a more neutral approach, depicting Daphne without face or breasts. She stands solidly and Apollo is near, but collecting her leaves, not grasping for her body. 🌿”