Psyche wordt verliefd op Cupido 1801

This print, ‘Psyche falls in love with Cupid’, was made by Pierre Audouin. Notice how Audouin uses line and contrast to bring this scene to life. The light, emanating from Psyche’s lamp, is not just a source of illumination but a central element that structures the composition. It throws the figures into sharp relief, accentuating the musculature of Cupid and the dynamic pose of Psyche. The stark contrast between light and shadow creates a dramatic tension, highlighting the emotional intensity of the moment. The lines are precise, almost clinical, giving the image a sense of classical restraint, even as the subject matter is highly charged. It is as if Audouin is using the formal constraints of engraving to explore the psychological complexities of desire and discovery. Consider how the use of light and shadow functions not merely aesthetically but as a signifier of revelation and the unsettling nature of knowledge.