Schommelende kinderen 1618 - 1655

Cornelis Schut created this print, Swinging Children, using etching in the 17th-century Netherlands. Here we see a group of putti, or cherubic children, enjoying a game on a swing. Although seemingly innocent, this image and others like it reveal a great deal about the society in which it was made. In the 17th century, the Dutch Republic experienced unprecedented economic growth and social change as global trade expanded and cities became hubs of commerce. The art market flourished, and artists responded to a growing demand for secular and domestic scenes. Prints such as this one would have circulated among a wide audience of collectors and art lovers. The image employs classical references, seen in the architectural setting and the figures’ resemblance to ancient Roman depictions of Cupid. These visual cues would have been familiar to the educated elite, who considered the classical world the foundation of their own culture. To understand this print, we can consult historical sources, such as trade records, art inventories, and social histories, to place it in the context of its own time. Art is never made in a vacuum, and its meaning is always shaped by the world around it.