Three Cupids Playing With An Ostrich c. 16th century

Curator: This print from the Harvard Art Museums depicts Three Cupids Playing With An Ostrich. It is by an anonymous artist. Editor: What strikes me immediately is the sheer abundance, the texture of the engraved line creating dense patterns. It feels rich, almost overwhelming. Curator: The means of production, the labor involved in creating such detail, speaks volumes about the value placed on ornamentation. Note the cornucopia-like garlands framing the scene. Editor: Yes, and the ostrich itself! Throughout history, the ostrich appears as a symbol of appetite, digestion, and perhaps even ignorance. The cupids playing with it... are they taming desire, or indulging it? Curator: Perhaps both? The image points to the complex relationship between labor, leisure, and the consumption of symbolic goods. Editor: I’m left wondering about the cultural context that would give rise to such a peculiar combination of symbols. It's an unusual piece. Curator: Indeed, it offers a glimpse into the material conditions and the symbolic language of a specific historical moment. Editor: A moment where desire, innocence, and abundance meet in a dance of engraved lines.