CUPIDO
2025
CUPIDO marks a decisive shift in Arjan Spannenburg’s oeuvre, which is predominantly defined by the quiet abstraction of black-and-white photography. In this series, color is not an aesthetic choice but a conceptual device, directly referencing the tradition of classical European painting. Spannenburg draws inspiration from the old masters, who used oil paint to capture the warmth and vitality of human skin. By employing a rich, painterly palette in CUPIDO, the series positions contemporary photography alongside this historic lineage, approaching the tactile presence of classical portraiture while portraying the modern ‘Eros’ in all his human complexity.
Exploration of Vulnerability in Color
The series investigates the emotional landscape of adolescence, capturing the tension between desire, innocence, and uncertainty. Warm skin tones and blonde hair contrast with deep petrol-green backgrounds, visually articulating the blush of longing and vulnerability that black-and-white would obscure.
Concept and Narrative
Set against shadowy, forested environments, each image presents CUPIDO in moments of hesitation and reflection. The traditional symbols of power, white wings and arrows, are present, yet the figure’s posture conveys the weight of responsibility and doubt. These images invite reflection on universal questions of love: What is love today? Is it sudden and striking or a quiet, gradual force?
CUPIDO becomes both messenger and seeker. The paradox of the series lies in portraying the god of love as vulnerable and uncertain, navigating darkness while bearing the tools of influence. Spannenburg captures a moment of introspection, where love is not just an idea but a deeply felt burden of the heart.
