Amors pile smedes 1743 - 1809

This drawing by Nicolai Abildgaard, currently held at the SMK, depicts a scene of cupids working in a forge. The most prominent of these symbols is, of course, the figure of Cupid himself, often associated with love and desire. However, here, we see Cupid not wielding a bow but actively participating in the labor of creation. The cupids hammering at the forge are reminiscent of Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and metalworking, and his assistants, the Cyclopes. Across time, Vulcan has been depicted as both a powerful, divine figure and as a worker, toiling away in the depths. This depiction of the cupids hard at work is a shift from the more common artistic representations, but hints at the idea that love itself, like any craft, requires labor and is made, forged. Such an image, though seemingly lighthearted, resonates with the deeper psychological truth. The creation of love, like the forging of metal, is a process that requires heat, pressure, and skillful shaping. It’s a continuous cycle that resurfaces and evolves with each telling, each new context adding another layer to its timeless appeal.