Oordeel van Paris 1553

This print of "The Judgement of Paris" was produced by Balthazar van den Bos in the 16th century. Observe the prominent apple, the prize for the fairest goddess, held aloft by Mercury between Venus and Paris. This fruit is not merely a token; it's a loaded symbol. Recall the golden apples of the Hesperides, guarded by a dragon, or the apple that incited discord in the Norse pantheon. This archetypal fruit, offered by Venus, speaks to a deeper, more primal yearning: the desire for beauty, and the chaos it can unleash. The serpent coiled around a tree, subtly placed, echoes the story of original sin, where desire leads to downfall. As the serpent whispers temptations, so too does Venus offer Paris the allure of Helen, sparking a war that would topple Troy. It's a continuous cycle of longing, conflict, and consequence—a timeless drama replayed across history.