Cupid and Psyche

Helen Jin

CUPID AND PSYCHE

My piece, “Cupid and Psyche”, captures a delicate, intimate moment where the mythological god, Cupid, awakens Psyche from death with a kiss. It is a painting of the Neoclassical statue, “Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss”, by Antonio Canova in the Louvre.

The painting features a paradoxical balance between intense emotion and detachment. I have been exploring the relationship between intimacy and loneliness. This piece centers on those two conflicting emotions. The loving embrace and rosy lights contrast, clash, but also meld with the stoniness and greenish shadows of the two lovers. Awakening from death, Psyche balances between two opposites. At the point of the kiss, bright lights reflects off of the white marble of the statues while the surrounding shadows increase the beauty of the kiss. I used dramatic shadows to heighten the emotion of the painting.

I used water mixable oil paint to capture Cavona’s range of smooth skin and textured hair.