Venus Playing with Cupid c. 19th century

Curator: This is "Venus Playing with Cupid," an engraving by Pietro Bonato, who lived from 1765 to 1820. Editor: The way she’s shielding her eyes from Cupid's arrow…there's a playful resistance, almost a knowing weariness. Curator: Absolutely, you see this subject popping up a lot as the aristocracy's power began to wane, almost as a critique against institutions. Editor: Cupid, often a symbol of blind passion, is here rendered almost mischievous, while Venus seems less goddess, more woman. Curator: The engraving technique allows for such delicate gradations of tone; it was a really popular medium for disseminating imagery quickly. Editor: Exactly, in many ways, it democratized access to classical themes, reframing them for an evolving social order. Curator: It's fascinating to consider how the image circulated and was interpreted in its time. Editor: It is, and how the symbols of love and beauty adapt to reflect the changing anxieties of the human condition.