Triomf van Amor 1640

Editor: Here we have Johann Friedrich Greuter’s "Triumph of Love," an engraving from 1640. It feels both classical and fantastical. An angelic figure riding a horse above a group of people… It’s quite striking! What symbols stand out to you? Curator: Indeed, the iconography here is quite rich. Note the figure of Amor, or Cupid, perched atop the horse, bearing not only flowers, but also his emblematic bow. What do the arrows piercing downwards imply to you, given Cupid’s usual association with love? Editor: Hmm, maybe that love can also wound? That’s kind of intense for a putto! Curator: Precisely! This engraving plays with the duality of love – its pleasures and pains. Observe the reactions of the figures below. Some seem awestruck, others perhaps wary. Could those arrows also represent the irresistible and sometimes destructive force of passion sweeping down upon mortals? What might that reveal about Baroque sensibilities? Editor: So, it’s not just a simple, sweet image of love. It's more like love as a powerful, somewhat dangerous force unleashed on the world? Curator: Exactly. The horse itself becomes a symbol. It flies unbound. What about that gesture strikes you? This isn't a simple scene but something symbolic, carried through our collective cultural memory. Consider how images of Cupid and the symbolism of arrows have persisted. This cultural weight is remarkable. Editor: I never would have looked so closely at each figure! The engraving almost becomes like a staged drama rather than just an image. It's made me think about how love is portrayed – and really felt – across time. Curator: Precisely. And now, when you encounter these recurring images, the layers of meaning – the cultural DNA if you will – might be a little clearer.