Psyche og den sovende Amor 1806

Johannes Senn created this delicate drawing of Psyche and the sleeping Amor using pen and wash on paper. Senn, a Danish artist working in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, was navigating a world undergoing immense social and political change, caught between the Enlightenment's rationalism and the burgeoning Romantic movement. Here, we see a depiction of a mythological scene, but it is charged with the tensions of gender, power, and desire. Psyche, illuminated and active, is depicted holding a lamp over the vulnerable, sleeping Amor. The gaze shifts from the male figure, traditionally the active subject, to Psyche, who now holds the power of observation and potential revelation. Senn subtly subverts traditional narratives, giving agency to his female subject. While classical themes were common, Senn’s focus on the emotional and psychological complexity of Psyche offers a more intimate portrayal. It's a quiet moment of defiance, where the boundaries of love, curiosity, and power blur.