Kærlighedens fødsel (La Naissancew de l'Amour) 1770

René Gaillard etched "The Birth of Love" with delicate lines. Here, the mischievous Cupid, bow in hand, stands poised, ever ready to strike with the arrow of desire. This scene, reminiscent of classical friezes, is charged with the lightheartedness so fashionable in the French courts of the eighteenth century. The Cupid figure has roots stretching back to ancient Greece and Rome, where Eros and Cupid were not mere cherubs but powerful deities capable of stirring the deepest passions. Over time, this figure has metamorphosed into the playful symbol we know today. There is an undeniable tension here: the almost hesitant touch of the man's hand juxtaposed with the readiness of Cupid. It is as if Gaillard captures the very moment of potential, where the spark of attraction hangs in the balance.