Venus and Anchises 

Giovanni Battista Piranesi etched "Venus and Anchises," depicting the goddess of love with the Trojan prince. Venus leans over Anchises, her hand gently caressing his face. This gesture, a tender touch, echoes across millennia. Consider the motif of the nurturing touch, found in countless depictions of the Madonna and Child or classical Pietà scenes. Here, the direction of this gesture is reversed, as Venus’ touch, instead of conveying comfort, embodies an erotic and intimate connection. This intimate gesture stirs deep within the subconscious, perhaps tapping into our primal longing for maternal care and affection. The narrative of Venus and Anchises speaks to our complex relationship with love, desire, and mortality. Like figures in Renaissance paintings, Venus's longing gaze reminds us of the cyclical nature of human experience and the echoes that resound through the corridors of time.