Venus en Mars betrapt op overspel 1576 - 1628

This engraving, "Venus and Mars Caught in Adultery", was created by Jan Collaert II. Notice the seemingly nonchalant gesture of Mercury, holding his caduceus, as he reveals the adulterous couple to the other gods. Mercury’s caduceus, a staff entwined with serpents, is not merely a symbol of commerce and negotiation, but also carries the weight of ancient healing rites and the balancing of opposing forces. The entwined snakes remind us of the ceaseless transformations in life. Similar images appear in Renaissance art to teach moral lessons about the consequences of lust and infidelity. But these symbols have deeper roots. The peacock, present on the lower left, is an emblem of pride, resurrection and vanity, and may have evolved from ancient Egyptian and Greek associations with immortality and divinity. These symbols resurface, reminding us of our primal impulses. The raw emotional power of illicit love engages viewers on a deep, subconscious level. The image's cyclical progression emphasizes that these stories reappear, transformed, in different contexts, reminding us of the enduring human drama.