Venus and Cupid, large plate 1896

Henri Fantin-Latour created this lithograph of Venus and Cupid. It depicts Venus, the goddess of love, and Cupid, her son, the god of desire. In classical art, Venus is often depicted nude, symbolizing beauty, fertility, and erotic love. Cupid is shown with his bow and arrow, ready to strike and ignite feelings of love. The motif of Cupid with bow and arrow echoes through time. Think of the Renaissance paintings where Cupid’s arrow is a symbol of sudden, often irrational, passion. Over time, it appears in popular culture, where it is often lighthearted, even comical, stripped of its deeper symbolic weight. Yet the subconscious resonance remains. The image evokes a timeless emotional landscape. The longing for love, the power of beauty, and the play of desire continue to engage viewers across generations, a testament to the enduring power of these ancient symbols. Their cyclical progression ensures that they resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts.