Plate 7: Psyche attended in her bath, from "The Story of Cupid and Psyche as told by Apuleius" 1530 - 1560

Agostino Veneziano created this engraving, Plate 7: Psyche attended in her bath, as part of "The Story of Cupid and Psyche as told by Apuleius." The composition unfolds as a carefully arranged tableau within a confined space, depicting four female figures attending to Psyche's bath. The artist employs a dense network of lines to model the figures and the surrounding architecture. The stark contrast between light and shadow enhances the volume and texture of the bodies and the objects in the room. This use of light and shadow animates the scene. The figures are posed to reveal their bodies, with their postures arranged to move the viewer's eye across the picture plane. This print operates within a complex semiotic system, where each element contributes to an understanding of beauty, ritual, and narrative. The bath and the act of cleansing here are not merely functional but serve as a symbolic purification. The use of line and form transforms a simple scene into a commentary on the aesthetics of the body and the cultural rituals that shape our perceptions.