Cupido met pijl en boog gezeten op een kussen 1512 - 1599

Barthel Beham's 'Cupid with bow and arrow sitting on a cushion' presents a concentrated study in early 16th-century engraving technique. The circular composition, packed with fine, closely-knit lines, creates a dense, almost tactile surface that is as visually stimulating as it is intellectually engaging. The form of Cupid takes shape through a complex interplay of light and shadow achieved by these delicate lines, giving volume to the figure, the pillow, and even the air around him. This technique not only defines the physical space but also brings forward themes of love and desire, visualized through the focused gaze and taut bow of Cupid. Observe the structural tension created by the contrasting textures: the smoothness of Cupid's skin against the dense pattern of his curly hair and the feathered wings. The contrast between the hard lines of Cupid’s arrow and the soft roundness of the cushion challenges our expectations and destabilizes conventional understandings of beauty and perfection. By using these formal techniques, Beham invites us to question and reinterpret our cultural symbols.