Eros, Psyche and the wedding cake

Eros, Psyche & the wedding cake

Written by Fatima Alara Adanir

According to Plato, Eros helps understand the truth. The original Greek helps to understand the term “Eros,” which has different meanings. The term "Platonic Love" derives from Plato, and according to the philosopher, Eros helps "remember" beauty in its purest form. I’ve found that this interpretation of Eros can be seen in not only the classical sculpture representations of the myth Eros and Psyche but also through the professional creation of wedding cakes. How so, you may ask. Let’s take a look...

Let’s start from the myth of Cupid and Psyche, from the Metamorphosis by Lucius Apuleius Madaurensis (2nd century AD) and retold in many forms throughout the centuries. Theirs is a relationship full of obstacles, and after a moment of mistrust Psyche has to endure a series of difficulties and challenges to be reunited with Cupid. In this article we will focus on the marble sculpture version carved by Antonio Canova in the 16th century. Cupid and Psyche can be seen today at Louvre Museum, on the verge of a kiss.

Wedding cakes, on the other hand, are found in pastry shops and of course, at weddings where they really shine. Although not a part of the visual arts, wedding cakes have become an iconic symbol of the celebration of culture. Wedding cakes are often described in sculpturesque terms, and both cakes and sculptures share strong connections to symbolism and visual iconography. The main techniques used in making sculptures are

"A sculpture can be visually enjoyed by any visitor, yet cakes allow for a multifaceted approach to physical pleasure."

carving, shaping, building, and combing details. In cake creation, there is the approach of combining substances and revealing new matter that can be considered comparable to the carving of a statue. The sculptor and baker are both designers and practitioners, especially in large designs, and it can be quite challenging for a single baker to perform every function. Canova’s statue displayed at the Louvre wasn’t created just by him but with the combined efforts of his bottega helping out. The similarities don’t end here, the visual effects evoked by cakes and sculptures are quite aligned as well: The white pureness of marble and cake frosting recalls churches and the religious institutions of Europe, while at the same times the connection to Greek mythology and luxury food connects to a more hedonistic vision of the world.

As a result, to sum up the similarities and differences of the practices, both represent purity and sensuality coming together. One is made for intellectual contemplation and the other for ritual consumption. In other words, neither one belongs to a specific category. The cake will be eaten and appreciated on a sensual level, as well as evoking a sense of purity through its color and connection to the ritual of marriage. Even though sculptures communicate a sense of purity in shape and form, they also demonstrate sensuality in their subjects.

As a difference, Canova’s statue has a harsher and more adult meaning. Themes such as nudity, sadness, pain, and erotism can be seen at first glance. A wedding cake, on the other hand, serves a commemorative purpose for the formal union of a couple. Perhaps the cake is much easier to understand and interpret than the statue. The analysis of the sculpture requires philosophical knowledge and familiarity of mythological symbolism. A sculpture can be visually enjoyed by any visitor, yet cakes allow for a multifaceted approach to physical pleasure. Cakes ultimately cater to more than one of the five senses experienced by the body: seeing, smelling, and tasting. Sculptures, on the other hand, while they appease the physical sense of seeing, speak for perception, interpretation, and emotions, formed by the human experience.