Death of Adonis c. 17th century

Curator: Claude Mellan created this engraving, "Death of Adonis," sometime during his career, which spanned much of the 17th century. Editor: It's a very affecting scene. The way Venus is posed, with her arm outstretched, really conveys her shock and grief. Curator: Indeed, Mellan was a master of conveying emotion through gesture. Adonis's death, of course, is symbolic of the cyclical nature of life and death. Editor: Yes, and it's hard not to read the image through a contemporary lens, considering the ways male vulnerability is often policed and punished, even today. Curator: You're right, the image is laden with the cultural weight of grief and the poignancy of lost youth. Editor: Reflecting on this work, I see how art provides a space to confront these timeless narratives about loss, power, and the complexities of human relationships. Curator: Agreed; even across centuries, the image continues to resonate with its exploration of profound emotional and symbolic truths.