The New Metamorphosis, Plate 6: The Story of Cupid and Psyche 1723 - 1724

"The New Metamorphosis, Plate 6: The Story of Cupid and Psyche" is an etching by William Hogarth, created between 1723 and 1724. This print, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, depicts a scene from the myth of Cupid and Psyche. The engraving captures the moment when Psyche, driven by curiosity, disobeys her husband, Cupid, by using a lamp to see his face. The detail and expressiveness of Hogarth's work, especially in the figures' emotions, is a hallmark of his style and highlights the enduring power of the myth. This plate, along with other works in the series, helped establish Hogarth as a leading figure in the development of British printmaking.