Middag 1745

This anonymous print, titled ‘Midday,’ presents a complex interplay of classical motifs. Dominating the scene are putti, those cherubic figures so beloved in Renaissance and Baroque art, symbols of innocence and divine love. One putto, in the upper-left corner, emits a beam of light toward another, who holds aloft a plate laden with food. Consider how these motifs echo through time. The putto, derived from ancient Cupid, reappears across centuries, transformed yet retaining echoes of its original meaning. Here, it is tied to the sun, a symbol from Apollo. The motif has cycled back through history, transformed by the shifting sands of culture and belief. Notice how this cherubic figure embodies the midday sun with a classical, timeless appeal, engaging our subconscious with a powerful sense of continuity.