Love and Divorce (1836)

"Love and Divorce" (1836) is a painting that explores the complex emotions involved in romantic relationships and separation. It depicts a couple experiencing the joys of love juxtaposed with the pain and upheaval of divorce. The artwork highlights the contrast between intimacy and conflict, illustrating how love can endure or falter under personal and societal pressures. Through expressive figures and symbolism, the piece reflects 19th-century attitudes toward marriage, emphasizing the emotional realities behind legal dissolution, and invites viewers to consider the personal toll of love's end.