The Story of Psyche: panel 3. Psyche Discovers that Her Mysterious Lover is Eros 1908

Maurice Denis painted “The Story of Psyche: panel 3. Psyche Discovers that Her Mysterious Lover is Eros” sometime around the turn of the 20th century, using oil on canvas. The hazy, dreamlike colors make this piece feel like a memory. Psyche holds a candle, but its glow barely illuminates the scene. Look closely at how the light catches the folds of the bedsheets, there’s a real tension between flatness and depth. Denis isn't trying to trick us into thinking this is real life. My eye is drawn to the circle of dancing figures above the bed. They are like a little porthole into another dimension. They are painted with such light, soft strokes that they almost feel like they could float off the canvas. There’s an intimacy to this piece that reminds me of Vuillard, another artist who explored the beauty of the everyday. Both artists seem to suggest that art is not about answers, but about the ongoing conversation.