Venus weerhoudt Adonis van de jacht 1655 - 1700

Curator: Looking at this engraving, attributed to Jan van Somer from around 1655 to 1700, entitled "Venus Restraining Adonis from the Hunt," I’m immediately struck by its tonal contrasts. Editor: I find the landscape and the figures rather melancholic, a stillness pervades the scene. Is it simply the black and white of the engraving, or is something else creating that mood? Curator: Perhaps it’s the thematic resonance. We see Venus, the goddess of love, physically holding back Adonis, an avid hunter, from his pursuit. He’s armed with a spear and ready to go, but she’s clinging to him. The erotic playfulness of Venus and Adonis—and the story itself—suggests the risks inherent in love, doesn’t it? Editor: Yes, especially considering what’s to come for Adonis—his tragic death during a hunt. There’s a subtle power dynamic at play too. Venus attempts to disrupt what was historically an almost exclusively male-dominated sphere. It also illustrates, in a broader sense, the struggle for dominance in a world in which roles were dictated by a strong patriarchal order. Curator: That struggle is symbolized by the dog at Adonis’s feet, obedient yet longing to chase. The angel overhead also mirrors this feeling—a commentary on both heavenly and earthly desires perhaps? Even the landscape carries meaning, that distant temple might be another echo of their fate or higher power looking over them. Editor: It raises questions about the agency these figures actually possess. Can they truly alter their destinies, or are they simply enacting a preordained narrative, frozen in a momentary but fatal decision? The engraving acts as an important symbolic marker, a social commentary that still prompts conversations about power and gender relations. Curator: Thinking about how Van Somer worked with lines and light, and how it carries an undercurrent of yearning—both visually and thematically, brings the artwork to life even centuries later. Editor: Indeed. The piece allows for introspection and connects us not only with classical myths but also with persistent challenges regarding fate, freedom, and the consequences of defying deeply ingrained social norms.