Amor raakt een man met zijn pijl c. 1690 - 1755

Editor: Here we have an engraving from around 1690 to 1755, "Amor raakt een man met zijn pijl", or "Cupid shoots a man with his arrow" by Elias Baeck. It’s quite a tiny scene, isn't it? There's a fella getting pegged by Cupid! What leaps out at you when you look at this? Curator: Well, first, that frame, it's not just decoration, it's practically another character. It boxes in, literally, the poor chap getting zapped by love's arrow. Is he fleeing or being overcome? Perhaps both. See those tumbling figures below? Maybe the engraver is implying the chaos that follows a sudden infatuation? What do *you* make of that chap sprawled out below? Editor: I didn't even notice them. Maybe a cautionary tale? Like, "beware of love, it'll knock you off your feet, literally"? And the decorative cherubs framing the sides, how do they fit into that theme? Curator: Aha! A fantastic question! It feels like that they are spectators – cheeky witnesses perhaps – perched up above with a smug grin on their faces. Perhaps that the humor here comes from watching love overcome an otherwise 'reasonable' person? Editor: So, a man overcome by love…It kind of reminds me of someone I saw at a cafe just yesterday. It sounds silly, but do you think art like this prepared people for the… overwhelming feelings of love? Curator: Perhaps. It certainly provided a framework for understanding and even *enjoying* the emotional roller coaster. Makes me wonder about the Baeck and his loves, eh? Anyway, thanks for making me notice that prone figure down at the bottom, as he adds depth to the engraver's point of view! Editor: Yeah, and now I'm gonna have a new perspective to think about regarding how visual elements might prepare someone emotionally in some aspects of daily life!