Vier putti op een wip 1696

This pen and ink drawing depicts four putti playing on a seesaw. These cherubic figures, often associated with love, innocence, and divine presence, appear throughout Renaissance art and beyond. The putto, derived from classical antiquity's Cupid or Eros, represents a bridge between the earthly and celestial realms. You'll see this motif in various forms, from Donatello's playful sculptures to the more somber, symbolic uses in funerary art, where putti guide souls. Consider how the innocent putto transforms, carrying both secular joy and profound spiritual weight across centuries. Here, the seesaw introduces an element of balance and play, reflecting the cyclical nature of life and fate. The rise and fall of the putti can be seen as a metaphor for the ups and downs of human existence, a visual representation of the ever-shifting fortunes that touch our lives. The image engages us, reminding us of the emotional spectrum inherent in the human condition, connecting us to deep-seated feelings of joy, fear, and hope.