Cupid Gardeners 

Editor: This is "Cupid Gardeners," attributed to Konstantin Makovsky, likely created with oil paints. The cherubic figures give it an almost cloying sweetness, but I can't help noticing all the paraphernalia of gardening: the wheelbarrow, the watering can, the basket. How do we unpack the relationship between labor, mythology and Romanticism here? Curator: Excellent question! Instead of simply viewing the cupids as allegorical figures, let’s consider how the artist's choice of representing them in a domestic labor context affects the piece. These are the tools, the tangible means, with which Makovsky creates this vision of love. We see how materials and labour function within an idealized representation of cupid. Editor: So, you're saying it’s not just *what* is depicted, but the conscious emphasis on the *how* of love's creation, as suggested by these tools. How does the use of oil paint tie into this, though? Curator: Oil paint, with its capacity for rendering texture and detail, brings a sensuous quality to the materials depicted. The soft rendering and delicate finish enhances the perception of fantasy. However, this also emphasizes the material basis upon which this ‘fantasy’ is constructed; think about where he acquired those materials, the time and energy invested in creation, his target audience, and what impact it had at the time, to name but a few material aspects to consider. It urges the viewer to recognise a deep cultural meaning rooted in materiality. Editor: It’s almost as if Makovsky is subverting the typical ethereal view of love, grounding it in these earthly processes. It’s more complicated than I initially thought. Curator: Precisely. And how do we value labor, particularly "invisible" labor? Does the idyllic nature of the garden further reinforce class structure or undermine it? What do you think? Editor: Now I see it. I need to dig much deeper to really engage with this kind of work. Curator: Absolutely. This artwork, when viewed through a materialist lens, can allow a nuanced reflection.