Amor en Psyche 1746 - 1793

Theodorus de Roode etched ‘Amor en Psyche’, capturing a pivotal moment in their tale. Psyche, guided by curiosity and armed with a lamp and dagger, gazes upon the sleeping form of her divine lover, Amor. The lamp and dagger are powerful symbols here. Light, often associated with knowledge and revelation, contrasts with the concealed truth of Amor's identity. The dagger represents Psyche's potential to disrupt her blissful ignorance, and echoes throughout art history as a symbol of betrayal. Think of Judith with the head of Holofernes: in both, a blade is the instrument of revelation, loaded with both danger and the promise of liberation. This scene engages with themes of trust, betrayal, and enlightenment. Psyche's internal conflict mirrors our own, grappling with the subconscious desires that drive us toward forbidden knowledge, the potential for self-destruction, and the eternal hope for redemption. The tale of Amor and Psyche, filled with such charged moments, continues to resurface, evolving through different interpretations.