Siervazen met putti 1721 - 1756

This print by Jeremias Wachsmuth depicts ornamental vases, showcasing a blend of natural and human forms. Dominating the design is the seashell motif, an ancient symbol associated with fertility, birth, and the divine feminine. The vases are embellished with putti. The seashell’s journey through art history is quite intriguing. We see its echoes in Botticelli's "Birth of Venus," where Venus emerges from a giant scallop shell, signifying her divine birth. This motif stretches back to antiquity, linked with the Greek goddess Aphrodite. In the Christian tradition, it symbolizes pilgrimage and rebirth, often seen adorning the garments of saints. Note how the putti cling to the vase, reminiscent of the infant Dionysus raised by nymphs. There’s a psychoanalytic depth here; the seashell perhaps stirs subconscious memories of the womb, a primal connection to life’s origins. It’s this emotional resonance that grants the image its enduring power. The cyclical recurrence of the seashell signifies our ongoing fascination with nature, beauty, and the mysteries of existence.