Cupid being led blindfolded on a donkey 1540 - 1556

Léon Davent created this print, “Cupid being led blindfolded on a donkey,” sometime in the mid-16th century. It reflects the era’s fascination with classical mythology, filtered through a Northern Renaissance lens. Here, we see Cupid, the god of love, humorously portrayed as blindfolded and riding a donkey. This speaks to love's irrationality, its potential for misdirection. He is surrounded by satyrs and lions, figures that could symbolize the unbridled passions and primal instincts often associated with love. The imagery plays with themes of control and chaos, reason and instinct. Is Cupid truly in charge, or is he being led astray by these base desires? This print invites us to consider the complexities of love and desire during a time of great social and religious upheaval. How do we navigate our desires in a world that demands both adherence to tradition and a hint of transgression? It's a question that resonates even now.