Selling Cupids. After a relief by Thorvaldsen. Study for biscuitware medallion 1845

Christen Christensen created this study for a biscuitware medallion, "Selling Cupids," inspired by a relief by Thorvaldsen. The medallion depicts a woman with a basket full of cupids, offering one to a buyer, while a dog looks on. Cupids, as symbols of love and desire, trace back to ancient Greece with Eros, and later, Rome, where Cupid's image evolved from a young man to the chubby, winged infant we recognize today. This shift reflects a transformation in the collective psyche, perhaps symbolizing the diminishment of passionate love into a more playful, frivolous pursuit. Observe how the act of selling cupids transforms the very nature of love into a commodity. This commercialization of affection is not unique to the 19th century; we see echoes of it in modern dating apps and the commodification of relationships. The dog, often a symbol of fidelity, contrasts here with the transactional nature of love, perhaps serving as a melancholic commentary on genuine affection. The cyclical progression of symbols reminds us that history is not linear. Instead, it echoes through time, resurfacing and evolving.