Putti met passiewerktuigen 1534 - 1606

Editor: Here we have "Putti met passiewerktuigen," an engraving attributed to Paolo Farinati, dating back to somewhere between 1534 and 1606. At first glance, I’m struck by the almost playful way these cherubic figures are handling symbols of immense suffering. How do you interpret that juxtaposition? Curator: It’s an image that resonates, doesn’t it? It feels very human. These *putti*, traditionally symbols of innocence and love, are bearing the instruments of the Passion. They’re almost like children playing dress-up, but with props loaded with profound meaning. Think about that, these symbols – the cross, the spear, the crown of thorns – they carry the weight of centuries. Does it strike you as more of a lament or perhaps even a glimmer of hope? Editor: I suppose it's a little of both? The innocence of the figures makes the items they're holding appear heavier. As if this sorrow belongs to the future even when considering this moment from history. The children make this sorrow seem bearable. Curator: Beautifully said! It’s that very tension, that paradox, which makes this engraving so compelling. And the artist’s use of line... See how delicate the hatching is in some areas, almost ethereal? Yet the weight of the cross feels palpable. I am drawn to how Farinati coveys immense weight in this manner. Is that something that resonates with you? Editor: I do notice the fine lines, yes! Especially how the characters almost seem suspended in a space by them. Thank you! I’ll be chewing on this for a while! Curator: Indeed, and it's delightful to consider something that holds such complex ideas. The past informing our present... quite potent isn't it?