Microscopische opname van angel van een honingbij, 25 keer vergroot 1887 - 1888

Marinus Pieter Filbri created this magnified photograph of a honeybee's stinger. In many cultures, the bee symbolizes diligence and cooperation, its honey representing the fruits of collective labor. But here, the stinger, usually hidden, is starkly revealed. The stinger is a symbol of pain and defense but it also mirrors Cupid's arrow and the piercing nature of love and emotional wounds. This is a recurring motif throughout history, from ancient myths to Renaissance art, where Cupid's arrow inflicts both desire and suffering. We see the persistence of this symbol in psychological terms—the piercing arrow reflecting a deep-seated human experience, a sharp reminder of vulnerability, and the defensive mechanisms we develop in response. The bee's sting, like Cupid's arrow, remains a potent image, capable of engaging viewers on a profound, often subconscious level. Through the image of the bee's stinger, Filbri has revealed a symbol that has recurred and transformed, leaving an emotional imprint that continues to resonate across time.