Venus weerhoudt Adonis van de jacht 1692 - 1737

Editor: So, this is "Venus weerhoudt Adonis van de jacht," or "Venus restraining Adonis from the hunt," by Pieter van den Berge. It's an engraving, placing it somewhere between 1692 and 1737, and the figures and woodland scenery feels so charged. How do you interpret this piece? Curator: Looking at it, I see a careful construction of conflicting desires, portrayed through the lens of classical mythology. Venus's hand, her very presence, signifies a restraint, a diversion from the masculine pursuit of the hunt – a hunt that the collective cultural memory knows ends in Adonis's demise. Editor: So, her affection is also a form of imprisonment? Curator: Precisely! The symbols here aren't merely decorative; they’re actively participating in a dialogue. The hunting spear behind them hints at danger, and yet Adonis gestures toward the opposite direction. What power dynamics do you think are at play? Editor: Well, Cupid seems to want to hold him back. There are other animals by Adonis's feet. He is physically pulled both ways. Is it a depiction of the battle between love and fate, or reason? Curator: Perhaps it suggests that the perceived glory of the hunt, of the heroic, is ultimately transient. Venus represents not just love, but also earthly delights, domesticity even. The imagery asks: what is true strength and wisdom? Where does true fulfillment lie? Editor: It is thought-provoking to consider Venus not just as a goddess of beauty but as a symbol of choosing a different path, one away from a possibly tragic fate. Curator: Indeed, Pieter van den Berge is prompting us to consider what we value. What symbols guide our own decisions, whether consciously or unconsciously?