Psammeticus verliefd op Rhodope Possibly 1783

Francesco Bartolozzi etched this print, "Psammeticus in Love with Rhodope," after a painting by Angelica Kauffmann, capturing a scene of royal affection. Here, the gesture of hand-holding transcends mere physical contact. Across centuries, the grasping of hands appears in countless contexts, from ancient Roman marriage reliefs symbolizing concordia, to medieval depictions of oath-taking, signifying loyalty and commitment. This simple act becomes laden with profound emotional weight; a vessel carrying complex social and psychological undertones. The longing in their eyes speaks to the human psyche’s enduring fascination with love. We see echoes of such yearning in Bernini's "Apollo and Daphne," a visual representation of the pain and ecstasy of unrequited love, forever etched in marble. The motif resurfaces, re-contextualized, each time tapping into the collective memory of human emotion.