Psyche voor Proserpina / Bacchus en Ariadne 1753 - 1790

Giovanni David created this print, "Psyche before Proserpina/Bacchus and Ariadne," using etching techniques. David's work reflects the eighteenth-century fascination with classical antiquity, but it also reveals the complex social and cultural dynamics of his time. Note how these mythological scenes offer a lens through which to consider the representation of gender and power. In the upper scene, we see delicate figures of classical nudes; the arrangement of Psyche and Proserpina might evoke themes of female virtue and beauty, but also hints at the limited roles assigned to women in the society of David's time. The bottom scene with Bacchus and Ariadne similarly shows classical ideals, yet might elicit a conversation about freedom and the constraints of social expectations. The choice of classical subjects allowed artists like David to explore themes of love, desire, and the human condition, while also commenting on the moral and social values of their contemporary world. These stories continue to invite reflections on our own contemporary values and norms, and their emotional impact.