Beeldengroep van Venus en Cupido 1638 - 1771

This drawing of Venus and Cupid was made by Jan de Bisschop in the 17th century. Here we see Venus, the goddess of love, with her son Cupid, a symbol of desire. It's a motif deeply rooted in classical antiquity. Note how this image echoes across time. We find it in ancient Roman frescoes and Renaissance paintings alike, yet each era subtly shifts its meaning. In Botticelli’s "Birth of Venus," the goddess emerges as an ideal of beauty, almost divine, while here, there's a more human, intimate connection between mother and child. The gesture of Venus guiding Cupid speaks volumes. It's a moment of instruction and guidance. Such imagery plays on our collective memory, tapping into an archetypal bond. Think of how the Madonna and Child motif in Christian art echoes the same sentiment, a mother's protective love, a powerful force engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. The symbol of Venus and Cupid is never static. It resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings, each time colored by the context of its creation.