Putten tragen Amor auf einem Schild 1783

Johann Peter Melchior created this chalk drawing, "Putten tragen Amor auf einem Schild," in 1783. Melchior lived during an era of significant social change and philosophical enlightenment, and he primarily worked with porcelain sculpture. Here, we see a depiction of cherubic figures bearing the weight of Amor, or Cupid, on a shield. The tableau presents a hierarchy. The laboring putti at the bottom literally prop up the figure of Amor. While seemingly lighthearted, the image speaks to the burdens of labor and the weight of societal expectations, particularly within the context of 18th-century social structures. The bottom putti are faceless and burdened while Amor stands tall, embodying the power of love and desire, yet dependent on those below. The drawing invites us to reflect on the unseen efforts that underpin idealized notions, and on the complex dynamics of power, desire, and labor.