De hovenier door liefde: de hovenier knielt voor twee vrouwen 1752 - 1825

This etching, "The Gardener Through Love," was made by Robbert Muys in the late 18th century. It depicts a scene brimming with classical motifs. Statues of gods and goddesses adorn the garden walls, standing as silent witnesses to the gardener's plea. Notice the kneeling gardener. This posture echoes the "Adoratio" motif, found in religious art where figures kneel in reverence. The gesture signifies submission and a plea for grace or favor, yet here, it is directed toward earthly love. It is as if the gardener is worshipping his own Venus. This posture can be traced through centuries of art, from medieval devotional images to Renaissance portraits of supplicants, its emotional weight undiminished. How peculiar that the gardener has traded his tools for romantic gestures, highlighting the psychological power of love to transform our roles and pursuits. Love, a force of nature, guides the gardener’s hand. The scene reminds us that even the most grounded professions are subject to the irrationalities of the human heart. This visual transformation, imbued with emotional longing, offers a powerful reflection on the enduring motifs of adoration and desire.