Venus nursing three Cupids in a landscape 1742

Louis Surugue created this print, "Venus nursing three Cupids in a landscape," using engraving techniques. The eye is immediately drawn to the cluster of figures in the foreground, where Venus is depicted nurturing three cherubic Cupids, set against a detailed pastoral backdrop. Structurally, Surugue's composition uses a delicate network of fine lines to define form and texture. The contrasting light and shadow create volume and depth. Venus, traditionally a symbol of love and beauty, is here portrayed in a maternal role, challenging fixed meanings of classical iconography. The landscape, marked by both natural and architectural elements, serves to frame the central scene. The crumbling ruin in the distance hints at the transient nature of beauty and power, engaging with broader philosophical concerns about time and decay. This juxtaposition invites us to question what established values are being destabilized and re-evaluated.