L'Hymen et l'Amour (Hymen and Cupid) 1746 - 1797

Jacques Firmin Beauvarlet made this print, "Hymen and Cupid," in France in the late eighteenth century. The image presents an idealized view of marriage, a union the artist aligns with love, beauty, and fertility. We can see how the image creates meaning through visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. Mythological figures are combined: Hymen, the god of marriage, appears with Cupid, god of erotic love, surrounded by cherubic figures and symbols of abundance. The work reflects the cultural values of its time, where marriage was seen as a cornerstone of social stability and family continuity. This print also touches on the institutional histories of art. Beauvarlet was a well-regarded engraver, and his prints helped to disseminate artistic ideas to a wider audience. The rise of printmaking was crucial for the development of a public sphere around art. We can understand the full meaning of this work through period documents such as marriage contracts, popular literature, and art criticism. The meaning of art is always contingent on the social and institutional context.