Omlijsting met putti 1690 - 1710

This border with putti was created by Gerrit Visscher. Here, cupids, or putti, are prominent, evoking classical antiquity, where they represented divine love. Notice how these winged figures, symbols of innocence and messengers of love, are intertwined with musical instruments and floral arrangements. The image of the putto is an enduring motif from ancient Roman art, resurrected during the Renaissance, to become a symbol of divine inspiration and emotional upliftment. Consider the face at the bottom, emerging from foliage. This is reminiscent of the Green Man, an ancient pagan symbol of nature's regenerative power, found in various forms across cultures from the Middle Ages onward. Its inclusion here represents a powerful connection between the spiritual and natural realms, a testament to the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth. The Green Man, like the putti, underscores the non-linear progression of symbols, which recur and evolve through time.