IRRLÆUFER

The linocut “Niobe’s Youngest Daughter and Apollo” depicts a moment of quiet tragedy and remorse. IRRLÆUFER takes up the mythological story of Niobe, whose children were killed by Apollo and Artemis at the behest of the goddess Leto. Here, however, the focus is not on divine wrath, but on the moment that follows—on the human within the divine.

Apollo, marked by guilt and compassion, holds the limp child in his arms. The composition is reminiscent of a Pietà, but instead of Christian redemption, there is the realization of his own cruelty. The god’s body appears heavy, broken under the weight of his deed. His gaze, fixed on the child, reveals both despair and tenderness.

IRRLÆUFER uses linocut to capture emotion in lines: the tension of the muscles, the harshness of the shadows, the fine cuts that make pain and vulnerability visible. The absence of color creates a powerful, timeless visual effect.

“Niobe’s youngest daughter and Apollo” is a study of guilt and compassion – a work that shows that even gods can feel the consequences of their actions.