The Captivating Beauty of Venus & Adonis

Experience the mesmerizing tale of Venus & Adonis, a vivid poem by William Shakespeare that seamlessly blends elements of comedy, tragedy, and sensuality. This exquisite piece of literature, based on passages from Ovid's Metamorphoses, has now been brought to life in a new Dutch translation by the talented Hafid Bouazza. To enhance your immersion into this enchanting world, renowned artist Marlene Dumas has contributed a stunning series of thirty-three illustrations, which are beautifully reproduced throughout the book.

A Complex and Kaleidoscopic Journey

Venus & Adonis delves into the intricate story of the goddess of love's relentless pursuit of the irresistible hunter, Adonis. Shakespeare's masterful verses poignantly capture the essence of love, evoking a kaleidoscope of emotions in every stanza. Each line speaks of Venus's yearning, tinged with unrequited passion. But it is the expressive ink washes of Dumas' illustrations that truly breathe new life into the poem. In her art, bodies entwine and bleed into one another, lips parting in sighs of unbridled passion.

An Eternal Flow of Light and Dark

As you immerse yourself in Venus & Adonis, you will discover a timeless exploration of the intricate dance between pleasure and pain, love and death. Dumas, like Shakespeare himself, intertwines these opposing forces with infinite skill, creating a constant flow of emotions that captivate the reader's soul. Through her exquisite artwork and Shakespeare's poignant verses, you will be transported into a world where desire and longing hold sway, where lips graze and passion abounds.

Step into the realm of Venus & Adonis, where the boundaries between the comic, the tragic, and the erotic blur, and the depths of human emotion are laid bare. Let this exquisite collaboration between Shakespeare, Bouazza, and Dumas ignite your imagination and awaken the hidden desires within.