Cupid Blindfolded and Two Doves after 1757

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo sketched this drawing, "Cupid Blindfolded and Two Doves," using pen and brown wash. Here, we see the classical god of love, Cupid, with his bow and arrow, but notably, he's blindfolded, a symbol of love's irrationality. Above him fly two doves, ancient symbols of peace, purity, and devotion, often associated with Venus, Cupid's mother. The motif of the blindfolded Cupid is hardly new. It can be traced back to ancient Roman art, where the god of love was often depicted without sight, emphasizing love's capricious and unpredictable nature. This symbolism, steeped in the collective unconscious, speaks to the notion that love is blind, an idea that has resonated across centuries. The emotional weight of this image lies in the tension between love's potential for joy and its inherent risks. Like a powerful dream, the image invites us to consider the paradoxical nature of love, a force that can both elevate and devastate. This symbol has been resurrected, reinterpreted, and adapted, embodying our timeless quest to comprehend the enigma of human connection.