Oordeel van Paris 1670

This anonymous print depicts the Judgement of Paris. Here, we see Paris, a Trojan shepherd, being asked to judge which of the three goddesses—Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite—is the fairest. Observe how Cupid, the god of love, accompanies Aphrodite, who is subtly presented as the likely victor through this association. This motif of divine judgment resonates with similar themes across cultures, such as trials by ordeal, where the outcome reveals divine favor or disfavor. The apple offered as the prize, a symbol of temptation and knowledge, echoes the biblical narrative of the Garden of Eden. The recurring motif of the Judgement of Paris in art underscores a deep-seated human fascination with beauty, desire, and the consequences of choice, constantly resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings in different historical contexts.