Bruiloft van Amor en Psyche c. 1530 - 1560

Curator: This engraving is titled *Bruiloft van Amor en Psyche,* or the *Wedding of Cupid and Psyche*, dating back to sometime between 1530 and 1560, created by the Master of the Die. It's currently held at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: It's quite striking. All of these figures packed into one scene, like a theatrical stage, and their expressions are intense. How do you interpret this work in the context of its time? Curator: Think about what marriage meant during the Italian Renaissance. Beyond personal affection, it was a deeply political and economic institution. Consider Psyche, a mortal, marrying Cupid, a god. What anxieties or aspirations about social mobility, or even the blurring of social lines, might this narrative reflect? And how does that relate to the visual language here? Editor: I see what you mean. There’s almost a tension between the idealized, classical bodies and the everyday setting of a wedding feast. It makes me wonder if it's a comment on social expectations or perhaps an early form of social commentary. Curator: Exactly! Consider also the print medium. Who had access to this imagery? Was it a means of disseminating certain ideologies or even critiquing them among specific social strata? Look at the gestures; who is included, who is excluded? Who seems to be in charge? Editor: I see how you are using questions about art to explore bigger cultural narratives about power and status. That's really fascinating! Curator: Art always has something to say, but the questions we ask it change over time, revealing the ongoing dialogues shaping and re-shaping cultures. Editor: It’s exciting to realize that this old print is really a gateway into talking about themes relevant today such as social equity, privilege, and status. Thank you.