Drinkend koppel 1739 - 1802

This is "Drinking Couple," an engraving by Justus Chevillet. The central motif is the act of drinking, embodying more than mere refreshment. The woman raises her glass in a toast, a social ritual symbolizing health, prosperity, and connection. Beside her, the man is knocked out on the table. Consider the classical symposium, where wine-fueled dialogue sparked philosophical insights, or the Dionysian festivals, where intoxication led to ecstatic communion with the divine. Yet, here, the man's slumped form suggests excess and oblivion. The glass raised high echoes countless libations across cultures, from ancient Roman banquets to contemporary celebrations. What begins as conviviality risks descending into a state of oblivion. In moments of collective joy and sorrow, we raise a glass, bridging the gap between the mundane and the transcendent, the individual and the communal. Chevillet’s engraving invites us to contemplate the fine line between celebration and excess.