Pygmalion maakt een standbeeld van een vrouw 1748 - 1815

This engraving, made by Emmanuel Jean de Ghendt, depicts the mythological tale of Pygmalion, a sculptor who falls in love with his own creation. Notice the statue, a symbol of ideal beauty, standing almost ethereal against the rough stone and tools. This motif echoes across time, recalling the ancient Greek obsession with perfect forms, and later resurfacing in Renaissance ideals. Consider how the act of creation itself becomes a mirror reflecting the artist's desires and psyche. The longing for life in the inanimate resonates deeply. Think of the Golem legends or even Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein—all variations on humanity's enduring desire to breathe life into lifeless matter. This collective fascination reveals a deep-seated psychological yearning to overcome mortality, to animate our fantasies into tangible reality. The intensity of Pygmalion's gaze engages us, stirring subconscious desires and fears about creation and control. The symbol of the statue thus continues its cyclical journey, evolving with each retelling, each new layer of meaning.