Romeo and Juliet 

Henri-Pierre Picou painted this version of Romeo and Juliet sometime in the mid-19th century. Picou, part of a generation steeped in Romanticism, brings a delicate touch to Shakespeare's classic tale of love, loss, and social conflict. Painted in France, this image speaks to a time of rigid social structures. Romeo and Juliet, from rival houses, were not just lovers; they were challenging the very fabric of their society. Picou paints them as archetypes of beauty. Yet, if we look closer, aren't they also trapped, caught between desire and duty, between their individual passions and their families’ expectations? Their love is not just a personal choice but a rebellious act. It’s a visceral expression against the old, entrenched ways of being, and like many forbidden loves, it has a cost. How does this play out still in contemporary society where the personal is always political?