Venus and Cupid Sleeping c. 18th century

Editor: Here we have Venus and Cupid Sleeping by Johann Heinrich Tischbein the Elder. It's an etching, quite small, and evokes a sense of pastoral tranquility. What do you see in this intimate scene? Curator: I see a dreamscape, doesn't it feel like one? Tischbein, born in the 1700s, plays with the idea of beauty and love, but in such a relaxed state. It's as though we've stumbled upon a secret, a moment of vulnerability in the goddess herself. What do you make of the doves? Editor: I hadn't considered them, but perhaps they're symbols of peace and devotion watching over them. Curator: Exactly! They are silent witnesses, a soft counterpoint to the potential chaos love can bring. It makes me wonder, what dreams are they having? Editor: I love how it feels both classical and deeply personal at the same time. Curator: Absolutely, a quiet revelation.