Venus and Cupid 1760

Jean-Honoré Fragonard created this oil on canvas titled "Venus and Cupid" during the Rococo period, an era known for its ornate and playful depictions of love and leisure. Fragonard, celebrated for his intimate and sensual scenes, here captures Venus, the goddess of love, cradling her son Cupid. The painting's soft pastel hues and delicate brushwork reflect the Rococo aesthetic, yet beneath this surface lies a complex interplay of power and vulnerability. Venus, typically portrayed as a symbol of mature beauty and erotic power, is shown here as a nurturing mother, softening traditional representations of femininity. Cupid, the god of desire, is rendered as a vulnerable infant, his power temporarily dormant. The sensuality of the work, the bared breast and the intimacy of the maternal gaze invite viewers to consider the personal and societal expectations placed upon women. Fragonard’s Venus embodies the tender, human aspects of a goddess, reflecting the shifting roles and perceptions of women in 18th-century French society.