Cupids Tickling Each Other 1720 - 1800

Editor: So this is *Cupids Tickling Each Other*, dating from somewhere between 1720 and 1800. It's an anonymous drawing or print at the Met. The texture and tonal range, especially the clouds, feel very dreamlike. What strikes you when you look at this, beyond the cherubic mischief? Curator: Oh, absolutely! There's an undeniable playfulness at first glance. But then I find myself drawn into the composition’s subtle rebellion. Think of traditional depictions of Cupid - pristine, powerful. Here, there’s a sort of subversion – a tickle fight, almost irreverent, and look at the landscape, a stage, with this almost whimsical treatment of nature. Do you notice the way they engage each other with so much joy? It almost asks "why take love *so* seriously?" Editor: That's such a cool interpretation! It almost feels like these cupids are cutting loose, playing against type. Curator: Precisely! Consider the period; the 18th century's growing challenges to the old order of things might be whispering through even seemingly innocent artworks like this. Perhaps, without overtly saying so, the artist poked a little fun at the establishment through the behavior of these cherubic figures. Editor: It's so interesting how much can be communicated, even through a scene of what looks like harmless fun. Curator: And that, my friend, is the magic of art. A window into unspoken thoughts and cultural undercurrents. It is funny and rebellious, right? Editor: I see what you mean. Now when I look at it I can feel how it's subtly hinting at broader shifts in thinking, a willingness to laugh, maybe even at love itself. Curator: It goes to show, beneath a delicate surface, a lot can bubble and brew. Editor: I’ll definitely remember that, thanks!