Putto met een groot masker op zijn hoofd 1620 - 1664

Stefano della Bella created this etching, Putto met een groot masker op zijn hoofd, which translates to Putto with a large mask on his head, in the 17th century. The artwork presents a nude, infant-like figure carrying an oversized, grotesque mask. This image exists within a context of political and social upheaval, where the performance of identity becomes both a means of survival and a form of resistance. Consider the mask as a symbol of power, and the putto, a representation of innocence burdened by it. How does this contrast speak to the experience of marginalized communities, who often find themselves navigating oppressive structures from a young age? The weight of the mask can be understood as the weight of societal expectations and the burden of representation. The emotional tension between the putto's delicate form and the mask's exaggerated features is a poignant reflection on vulnerability and resilience.