Psyché 1881

Alexandre Cabanel painted Psyché, immortalizing her with oils, during the 19th century. Butterflies, the symbol of Psyché, are emblematic of the soul. The Ancient Greeks believed that when a person died, their soul took the form of a butterfly. The golden box Psyché holds repeats through history. We find its likeness in Pandora’s box of forbidden knowledge, and later in the reliquaries of Christian saints. Here, the box contains beauty stolen from Proserpine. The opening of the box signifies a dangerous temptation. This recalls the story of Eve, a cautionary tale which explores a similar yearning to transgress. Note the melancholic expression on Psyché's face; the painting conveys the deep emotional weight of this pivotal moment. Like a recurring dream, the box resurfaces time and again, a potent symbol that speaks to the complex interplay between desire, knowledge, and the human condition.