Psyke, der nærmer sig den sovende Amor 1808

Johann Georg Wahl created this canvas depicting Psyche approaching the sleeping Cupid. The story of Cupid and Psyche as told by Apuleius was a popular subject for artists in the late 1700s and early 1800s. During this period, which art historians call the Neoclassical, many artists looked to ancient Greece and Rome for subject matter and inspiration. Wahl’s work makes sense in the context of Denmark's art academy culture, which cultivated Neoclassicism. But more than that, the myth of Cupid and Psyche allowed artists to investigate a series of questions around gender, desire, and knowledge. In many ways, it allowed them to explore the shifting roles of women in an era of revolution. Historical archives allow us to investigate not only the classical sources for the subject matter of Wahl's painting, but also the institutional setting of the Danish art world, which was so crucial in shaping his artistic output.