The Sleep of Cupid 1748 - 1804

Jean-Baptiste Michel created this print, "The Sleep of Cupid," in France in the late 18th century. The image depicts Cupid, the god of love, slumbering in a pastoral setting, his bow and arrows cast aside. Such allegorical scenes were highly popular among the aristocratic elite of pre-revolutionary France. They offered a delicate, idealized vision of love and leisure. The print's delicate lines and classical references reflect the artistic tastes of the time. It was a period of growing social inequality and political tension, with the French monarchy and aristocracy clinging to their privileges. The image thus speaks to the social conditions that shaped artistic production. To fully understand this artwork, research into the prints trade and artistic patronage in 18th-century France would reveal more of the story. Art is contingent on social and institutional context.