Venus and Mercury 1520 - 1525

Hans Burgkmair crafted this intriguing engraving, "Venus and Mercury," now residing at the Metropolitan Museum, where classical myth intertwines with the Northern Renaissance spirit. Here, Mercury, messenger of the gods and guide of souls, appears to pierce Venus with an arrow. This arrow, far from a mere weapon, is a symbol laden with ancient echoes. We see the motif of Cupid's arrow in classical art representing desire, but here, its direction is reversed: Mercury, with his rational mind, 'wounds' Venus. This echoes through time, as the motif resurfaces in other forms, such as courtly love traditions, but with a twist—where the initial pain of love is what leads to heightened passion. The arrow's symbolic potency remains, engaging viewers on a primal, almost subconscious level. Thus, the arrow's path is not linear, but a cyclical journey through the collective psyche, forever altering its course.