In the history of language, the Modern English “love” evolved from the Old English lufu, which encapsulated a range of meanings – sexual attraction, affection, friendliness, the love of God, love as an abstraction or personification. The word descended from Proto-Germanic, with cognates in other Germanic languages, such as the German liebe.

 

Its ultimate origin is the Proto-Indo-European root leubh- “to care, desire, love” – the same source as for words including the Sanskrit lubhyati “desires” and the Latin libido “desire, longing, sensual passion, lust”.

 

In the history of art, the concept of love has been a prominent theme. And in the 20th century, the most iconic rendition of love is surely American pop artist Robert Indiana’s LOVE. Crucially, in his work – which Indiana himself described as “verbal-visual” – the meaning of the word is reflected in its typography

Followers of Candidedid