Putti proberen een geit te berijden 1670 - 1697

This print, made by Paul van Somer the Younger, features putti attempting to ride a goat. The putti, or cherubs, are mischievous figures, embodying playful innocence and the unbridled energy of youth. The image is evocative of the ancient Roman festival of the Lupercalia, where goats were sacrificed. The Luperci, priests of the god Lupercus, would run through the streets striking people with goat skin to promote fertility. The goat, often associated with virility and untamed nature, becomes a symbol of chaotic energy. Notice how the putti struggle and tumble, mirroring humanity's eternal struggle to control the primal forces of nature. This scene, while seemingly lighthearted, taps into a deep-seated, perhaps subconscious, understanding of the balance between order and chaos. The unbridled vitality of the goat, combined with the putti's rambunctious attempts at control, speaks to the cyclical nature of human experience. This composition is more than just playful—it's a condensed drama of life's enduring tensions.