Venus and Adonis 1614

Peter Paul Rubens painted "Venus and Adonis" at an unknown date with oil on canvas. Rubens, as a leading Baroque artist in the 17th century, lived in a society deeply shaped by classical mythology. The painting portrays Venus, the goddess of love, desperately clinging to Adonis, a mortal hunter. The scene captures a moment of intense emotion and negotiation of power dynamics. Venus is actively trying to detain Adonis, while he is keen to proceed on the hunt, highlighting gendered expectations. This is further demonstrated by the active role of the female goddess versus the passive objectification of the man. In the story, Adonis ignores her pleas and is killed by a wild boar during his hunt. There is an element of tragedy and lost agency for Venus, who is unable to avert the fate of her lover. The artwork serves as a reflection of the anxieties surrounding love, loss, and the transience of life while offering a glimpse into a complex interplay of desire and fate.